The word "ingenuo" is an adjective.
/inˈxen.wo/
"Ingenuo" refers to a person who displays a lack of experience, sophistication, or critical judgment. It can describe someone who is innocent, trusting, and often unsuspecting of the complexities or deceitfulness in certain situations.
The term is frequently used in both spoken and written contexts, but it may appear more often in literature or formal discussions where character assessments are made. People may use "ingenuo" to comment on someone's trusting nature or to describe actions that seem overly simplistic or unguarded.
Él es un ingenuo que siempre cree en las buenas intenciones de los demás.
He is a naive person who always believes in the good intentions of others.
No seas ingenuo, esa oferta parece demasiado buena para ser verdad.
Don't be gullible; that offer seems too good to be true.
La niña era tan ingenua que no se dio cuenta de que la estaban engañando.
The girl was so innocent that she didn't realize she was being deceived.
While "ingenuo" itself may not be used in many idiomatic expressions, it can contribute to several phrases that imply naivety or gullibility.
Caer en la ingenuidad
(To fall into naivety)
Caer en la ingenuidad es un error común entre los jóvenes que confían demasiado en los demás.
Falling into naivety is a common mistake among young people who trust others too much.
Ser un ingenuo de manual
(To be a textbook naive person)
A veces es mejor ser un ingenuo de manual que perder la fe en la bondad humana.
Sometimes it's better to be a textbook naive person than to lose faith in human goodness.
No seas tan ingenuo como para creer que todo el mundo actúa con honestidad.
(Don't be so naive as to believe that everyone acts honestly.)
No seas tan ingenuo como para creer que todo el mundo actúa con honestidad; siempre hay excepciones.
Don't be so naive as to believe that everyone acts honestly; there are always exceptions.
The word "ingenuo" comes from the Latin term "ingenuus," which means "native" or "free-born." In classical usage, it referred to someone who was unpretentious and honest, evolving to signify naivety in modern usage.