débil
“débil” means “weak” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
weak, frail
Also: feeble
📝 In Action
Después de la enfermedad, se sentía muy débil.
A2After the illness, he felt very weak.
El bebé tiene un agarre muy débil, pero está creciendo.
B1The baby has a very weak grip, but he is growing.
Mis rodillas son débiles, así que no puedo correr mucho.
A2My knees are weak, so I can't run much.
faint, weak
Also: flimsy, low-intensity
📝 In Action
La señal de wifi era muy débil en el sótano.
B1The WiFi signal was very weak in the basement.
Su argumento sobre el cambio climático resultó ser muy débil.
B2Their argument about climate change turned out to be very weak (unconvincing).
Prefiero el café con un sabor más débil.
B1I prefer coffee with a fainter/weaker flavor.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: débil
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'débil' to describe a lack of intensity, rather than physical strength?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word 'débil' comes directly from the Latin word *debilis*, which meant 'lame, disabled, or weak'. It has carried the meaning of lacking strength since its very beginning.
First recorded: 13th century (in Spanish)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'débil' have an accent mark?
'Débil' naturally stresses the first syllable (DÉ-bil). Since it ends in 'L' (a consonant other than N or S), Spanish rules say the stress should fall on the last syllable. The written accent mark is necessary to override this standard rule and keep the stress on the first syllable.
Can 'débil' ever mean 'stupid' or 'slow'?
While the related French cognate 'débile' often means 'stupid' or 'slow,' in modern Spanish, 'débil' almost exclusively means 'weak' or 'frail.' You should use words like 'tonto' or 'estúpido' if you mean stupid.