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irracional

ee-rra-syo-NAHL/iraθjoˈnal/

irrational

Also: senseless
A colorful storybook illustration of a man trying to water a plant with an empty bucket while a full watering can sits right next to him.

📝 In Action

Tengo un miedo irracional a las arañas.

A2

I have an irrational fear of spiders.

Fue una decisión irracional tomada bajo presión.

B1

It was an irrational decision made under pressure.

No intentes razonar con él cuando está tan irracional.

B2

Don't try to reason with him when he's being so irrational.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ilógico (illogical)
  • insensato (senseless)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • miedo irracional – irrational fear
  • comportamiento irracional – irrational behavior

irrational

Adjectivem/fB2formal
A colorful storybook illustration of a spiral made of many different sized colorful stones that never forms a perfect circle.

📝 In Action

Pi es el número irracional más famoso.

B2

Pi is the most famous irrational number.

La raíz cuadrada de dos es un valor irracional.

C1

The square root of two is an irrational value.

Word Connections

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • número irracional – irrational number

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "irracional" in Spanish:

irrational→senseless→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: irracional

Question 1 of 3

If you have a 'miedo irracional', is your fear based on logical facts?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
razón(reason) — Noun
racional(rational) — Adjective
razonar(to reason) — Verb
racionalidad(rationality) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'irrationalis'. It combines 'in-' (meaning 'not') and 'rationalis' (meaning 'logical' or 'related to counting').

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: irrationalFrench: irrationnelItalian: irrazionale

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'irracional' an insult?

It can be. Calling someone 'irracional' suggests they are not being reasonable or are acting purely on emotion, which can be seen as rude in a heated argument.

What is the difference between 'ilógico' and 'irracional'?

'Ilógico' usually refers to a mistake in a sequence of thoughts, while 'irracional' is often deeper, describing powerful fears, instincts, or total defiance of reason.

How do I pronounce the double 'r'?

Place your tongue against the ridge behind your upper teeth and blow air to make it vibrate. It's the same sound as the 'r' at the start of 'Roma'.