imbéciles
/eem-BEH-see-less/
idiots
When used as a noun, 'imbéciles' refers to people who are acting like idiots.
imbéciles(noun)
idiots
?plural of imbécil
fools
?insulting term for people
,morons
?strong insult
📝 In Action
¡Esos imbéciles no leyeron las instrucciones!
B1Those idiots didn't read the instructions!
No seas como los otros imbéciles; piensa por ti mismo.
B2Don't be like the other fools; think for yourself.
Las autoridades actuaron como verdaderos imbéciles.
C1The authorities acted like true idiots.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Neutrality
Even though it ends in '-es' (which often suggests masculine plural), 'imbéciles' can refer to a group of men, a group of women, or a mixed group. It's gender-neutral when used as a noun describing people.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Too Formal Use
Mistake: "Using 'imbéciles' in a formal or professional setting."
Correction: This word is highly insulting. Use gentler terms like 'despistados' (scatterbrained) or 'irresponsables' (irresponsible) if you need to criticize someone in a neutral setting.
⭐ Usage Tips
Singular Form
The singular form is 'imbécil' (the 's' is dropped). Like the plural, it can describe both a man ('el imbécil') and a woman ('la imbécil').
'Imbéciles' can also be used as an adjective to describe actions or ideas that are stupid or senseless.
imbéciles(adjective)
stupid
?describing actions or ideas (plural)
idiotic
?describing decisions (plural)
,foolish
?describing comments (plural)
📝 In Action
Tomaron decisiones muy imbéciles.
B2They made very stupid decisions.
Sus comentarios fueron tan imbéciles que nadie los tomó en serio.
C1Their comments were so idiotic that nobody took them seriously.
💡 Grammar Points
Agreement
As an adjective, 'imbéciles' must match the noun it describes in number. Since 'imbéciles' is plural, it is used with plural nouns, regardless of whether they are masculine or feminine (e.g., 'errores' or 'decisiones').
⭐ Usage Tips
Intensifying the Insult
You can strengthen the description by adding 'tan' (so) or 'muy' (very) before the adjective: '¡Qué decisiones tan imbéciles!'
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: imbéciles
Question 1 of 1
If you want to call a single woman foolish, what is the correct word?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'imbéciles' a strong insult?
Yes, 'imbéciles' is considered a strong, derogatory insult in most Spanish-speaking regions and should be used with caution, primarily in very informal or angry contexts.
Does 'imbéciles' ever mean 'physically weak'?
While the word's ancient Latin root meant 'physically weak,' in modern Spanish, 'imbéciles' almost exclusively refers to a lack of intelligence or mental foolishness, not physical strength.