idiota
“idiota” means “idiot” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
idiot
Also: fool, moron
📝 In Action
¡No seas idiota! Cuidado con el coche.
B1Don't be an idiot! Watch out for the car.
Mi hermano a veces es un idiota, pero lo quiero.
B1My brother is an idiot sometimes, but I love him.
idiotic
Also: stupid, foolish
📝 In Action
Fue una decisión idiota vender el coche.
B1It was an idiotic decision to sell the car.
Me hizo una pregunta totalmente idiota.
B1He asked me a totally stupid question.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: idiota
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'idiōta', which itself came from the Greek 'idiōtēs'. Originally, it just meant a 'private person' or someone not involved in public affairs. Over time, it came to mean someone ignorant or unskilled, and eventually, a stupid person.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How offensive is the word 'idiota'?
It's quite offensive and should be used with caution. It's a direct insult, similar to 'idiot' or 'moron' in English. It's not a playful or lighthearted word, and using it can easily start an argument.
Is 'idiota' always masculine? Why does it end in '-a'?
No, it can refer to men or women. It's one of a group of words (many from Greek) that end in '-a' but can be masculine. You show the gender with the word before it: 'el idiota' for a male, and 'la idiota' for a female. When used as an adjective, it always stays 'idiota' regardless of the noun's gender.