Inklingo
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cretino

/kreh-TEE-noh/

idiot

A cartoon figure looking puzzled while holding a banana up to their ear as if it were a phone receiver.

When used as a noun, cretino refers to a foolish or stupid person, like this character trying to use a banana as a phone.

cretino(noun)

mB1

idiot

?

A foolish or stupid person

,

moron

?

A derogatory term for a very foolish person

Also:

fool

?

General term for a silly person

📝 In Action

Ese cretino olvidó apagar las luces otra vez.

B1

That idiot forgot to turn off the lights again.

No seas cretina y piensa antes de hablar.

B2

Don't be an idiot (f.) and think before you speak.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • estúpido (stupid person)
  • tonto (silly person)

Common Collocations

  • ¡Eres un cretino! – You are an idiot!

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Matching

Like many nouns that describe people, 'cretino' changes based on the person's gender: 'el cretino' (male) or 'la cretina' (female).

⭐ Usage Tips

Strong Language Warning

This word is a very strong insult. Use it only in highly informal settings or when you genuinely want to express strong anger or contempt.

A person smiling foolishly while using a watering can to pour water directly onto a small fish swimming inside a glass bowl.

As an adjective, cretino describes something idiotic, like the act of watering a fish that is already in water.

cretino(adjective)

mB2

idiotic

?

Describing an action or idea

,

stupid

?

Describing a behavior

📝 In Action

Fue una idea cretina cruzar la calle sin mirar.

B2

It was an idiotic idea to cross the street without looking.

Su actitud cretina nos hizo perder el autobús.

C1

His stupid attitude made us miss the bus.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • absurdo (absurd)
  • ridículo (ridiculous)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • una decisión cretina – an idiotic decision

💡 Grammar Points

Adjective Agreement

As an adjective, 'cretino' must match the noun it describes in both number (singular/plural) and gender (masculine/feminine). E.g., 'decisiones cretinas' (plural, feminine).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'ser' vs. 'estar'

Mistake: "Using 'Está cretino' (He is temporarily acting stupid)."

Correction: Use 'Ser': 'Es cretino' (He is inherently/always an idiot). Traits that are considered defining characteristics usually use the verb 'ser'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: cretino

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'cretino' correctly as a noun?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

cretinada(idiotic act/stupid thing) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'cretino' a very offensive word?

Yes, 'cretino' is considered a strong, highly derogatory insult. While it's common in informal arguments or media, it is much harsher than words like 'tonto' (silly) and should be used with caution, as it can cause offense.

How do I make 'cretino' plural?

You simply add '-s': 'cretinos' for masculine plural (e.g., 'los cretinos') and 'cretinas' for feminine plural (e.g., 'las cretinas').