practical skill

[PRAK-ti-kəl skil]
nounpl: practical skills
habilidade prática
1. A competence or ability that is acquired through training and experience and can be applied in real-world situations
Carpentry requires many practical skills such as measuring, cutting, and joining wood.
Carpintaria requer muitas habilidades práticas, como medir, cortar e unir madeira.
2. Technical knowledge combined with hands-on experience in performing a specific task
She developed practical skills in software development through internships.
Ela desenvolveu habilidades práticas em desenvolvimento de software através de estágios.
3. Ability to apply theoretical knowledge to actual problem-solving
Practical skills in first aid can save lives in emergency situations.
Habilidades práticas em primeiros socorros podem salvar vidas em situações de emergência.
In Brazil, practical skills (habilidades práticas) are increasingly emphasized in education and vocational training as the job market values a balance between theoretical knowledge and hands-on competence. The phrase is commonly used in professional development contexts, educational curricula, and job descriptions. In the USA, 'practical skills' is central to American pragmatism and is highly valued in career advancement and technical professions.
NYC Slang
hands-on game / street smarts (in casual contexts)
Synonyms / Sinônimos
hands-on skilltechnical abilityapplied competenceexpertiseproficiency
Antonyms / Antônimos
theoretical knowledgeacademic learningimpractical skill

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
habilidade prática
Most common usage across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
habilidade prática / jogo de cintura
Colloquially may use 'jogo de cintura' for street smarts or practical know-how
São Paulo
habilidade prática / competência técnica
More formal business contexts prefer 'competência técnica'
Portugal
competência prática / perícia
Portuguese often uses 'competência prática' or 'perícia' for specialized skills

Related Words

competenceproficiencyexpertisetechniquecrafttrainingexperience

Related Idioms & Phrases

learn by doing
get your hands dirty
on-the-job training
learning curve
put theory into practice
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