absurdo
“absurdo” means “absurd” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
absurd, ridiculous
Also: preposterous, nonsensical
📝 In Action
La idea de ir a la playa en medio de la tormenta es completamente absurda.
B1The idea of going to the beach in the middle of the storm is completely absurd.
Su argumento era tan absurdo que nadie lo tomó en serio.
B2His argument was so ridiculous that no one took him seriously.
Las reglas del nuevo juego son absurdas y muy difíciles de seguir.
B1The rules of the new game are nonsensical and very difficult to follow.
absurdity
Also: the absurd
📝 In Action
El absurdo de la burocracia nos hizo esperar cinco horas.
C1The absurdity of the bureaucracy made us wait five hours.
El escritor exploró el tema del absurdo en su última novela.
C2The writer explored the theme of the absurd in his last novel.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "absurdo" in Spanish:
absurdity→nonsensical→preposterous→ridiculous→the absurd→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: absurdo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the adjective form of 'absurdo'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word *absurdus*, which literally meant 'out of tune' or 'inappropriate to the ears.' Over time, this sense of being 'wrong' evolved into the modern meaning of being 'ridiculous' or 'contrary to reason.'
First recorded: 15th century (in Spanish)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make 'absurdo' negative?
Since 'absurdo' already means something is contrary to reason, you usually don't need a negative. If you want to say something is *not* absurd, you would use an antonym like 'lógico' (logical) or 'sensato' (sensible).
Can I use 'absurdo' to describe a person?
Yes, you can use it to describe a person's behavior or statements (e.g., 'Es un hombre con ideas absurdas' - He is a man with absurd ideas). However, using it directly as 'Él es absurdo' usually implies his entire personality or manner is nonsensical.