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bufón

boo-FOHNbuˈfon

buffoon

Also: fool, class clown
NounmB1
General
A person wearing a brightly colored, mismatched outfit making a silly face and juggling three colorful balls.

📝 In Action

Deja de actuar como un bufón y ponte a trabajar.

B1

Stop acting like a buffoon and get to work.

Siempre fue el bufón de la clase.

B1

He was always the class clown.

No quiero quedar como un bufón delante de todos.

B2

I don't want to look like a fool in front of everyone.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • hacer el bufón – to play the fool
  • parecer un bufón – to look like a fool

Idioms & Expressions

  • ser el bufón de la corte – to be the person everyone laughs at in a group

jester

Also: court fool
NounmB2
A medieval jester in a two-toned floppy hat with bells, holding a small scepter with a tiny face on it.

📝 In Action

El bufón de la corte era el único que podía criticar al rey.

B2

The court jester was the only one who could criticize the king.

Velázquez pintó retratos famosos de los bufones de palacio.

C1

Velázquez painted famous portraits of the palace jesters.

Los bufones usaban cascabeles en sus sombreros.

B2

Jesters used to wear bells on their hats.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • arlequín (harlequin)
  • juglar (minstrel)

Common Collocations

  • bufón de palacio – palace jester
  • traje de bufón – jester's costume

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "bufón" in Spanish:

class clown→court fool→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: bufón

Question 1 of 3

Which of these people would most likely be called a 'bufón' in a modern setting?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
bufonada(a silly act or joke) — Noun
bufonear(to make jokes or act silly) — Verb
bufo(comical or grotesque) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
campeónavióncorazón
📚 Etymology▼

From the Italian word 'buffone', which comes from 'buffare' (to puff out one's cheeks), describing the funny faces entertainers would make.

First recorded: 16th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: buffoonFrench: bouffonItalian: buffone

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'bufón' a bad word?

It's not a 'swear word,' but it can be an insult. It implies the person is being ridiculous or shouldn't be taken seriously.

Can I use 'bufón' for a woman?

Yes, but you should change the ending to 'bufona' and use 'la' instead of 'el'.

What is the difference between 'payaso' and 'bufón'?

'Payaso' is a circus clown or a very childish person. 'Bufón' sounds a bit more like someone trying to be the 'center of attention' or a historical jester.