loca
/LOH-kah/
crazy
As an adjective, loca means 'crazy' or acting strangely, such as holding an umbrella upside down on a clear day.
loca(Adjective)
crazy
?General term for someone not thinking clearly or acting strangely.
mad
?Similar to 'crazy'.
,insane
?A stronger, more serious term for mental illness.
📝 In Action
Mi hermana a veces está un poco loca, pero es divertida.
A2My sister is a little crazy sometimes, but she's fun.
¿Estás loca? ¡No puedes saltar desde ahí!
B1Are you crazy? You can't jump from there!
💡 Grammar Points
Always Match the Person or Thing
'Loca' is the feminine form. It must describe a feminine person or thing. For a masculine one, use 'loco'. For example, 'la mujer loca' (the crazy woman) but 'el hombre loco' (the crazy man).
Ser vs. Estar: A Key Difference
Use 'ser loca' to say someone IS a crazy person (their personality). Use 'estar loca' to say someone IS ACTING crazy right now (a temporary state). '¡Estás loca!' is much more common for reacting to a silly idea.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting to Change the Ending
Mistake: "El perro es muy loca."
Correction: El perro es muy loco. 'Perro' is a masculine word, so you need the masculine ending '-o'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Friendly Exaggeration
People often use 'loca' or 'loco' to exaggerate, not to be mean. If a friend suggests doing something spontaneous, you might say '¡Estás loca!' with a laugh.
In informal contexts, loca can describe an event, like a party or a situation, as 'wild' or 'hectic'.
loca(Adjective)
wild
?Describing an event, like a party.
hectic
?Describing a situation, like a busy day or life.
,great
?Expressing that an idea is fantastic or brilliant.
📝 In Action
La fiesta de anoche fue una noche loca.
B1Last night's party was a wild night.
Tengo una idea loca para nuestro viaje.
B1I have a crazy (great) idea for our trip.
Fue una carrera loca para llegar al aeropuerto a tiempo.
B2It was a frantic race to get to the airport on time.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describe More Than People
Remember you can use 'loca' for things, not just people. A 'vida loca' is a hectic life, and an 'idea loca' can be a wild or brilliant idea.
The phrase estar loca por means 'to be crazy about,' expressing strong enthusiasm or desire for something, like chocolate.
loca(Adjective)
crazy about
?Expressing love or strong liking for something or someone.
mad with
?Overcome with an emotion, like joy or pain.
,dying to
?Expressing a strong desire to do something.
📝 In Action
Estoy loca por el chocolate.
B1I'm crazy about chocolate.
Ella está loca por ir a la playa.
B1She's dying to go to the beach.
Se volvió loca de alegría cuando vio el regalo.
B2She went mad with joy when she saw the gift.
💡 Grammar Points
Key Phrases: 'loca por' and 'loca de'
Use 'estar loca por' to show you're crazy about someone/something. Use 'estar loca de' to show you're overcome with an emotion, like 'loca de amor' (crazy with love).
As a noun, una loca refers to a 'crazy woman' or 'madwoman,' often describing someone acting irrationally in public.
loca(Noun)
crazy woman
?A woman who is considered insane or acts irrationally.
madwoman
?A more literary or dramatic term.
📝 In Action
No le hagas caso, es una loca.
B2Don't pay attention to her, she's a crazy woman.
La gente en la calle la miraba como a una loca.
C1People on the street looked at her like a madwoman.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Caution
Calling someone 'una loca' can be very insulting. It's much stronger and more negative than saying someone 'está loca' (is acting crazy).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: loca
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence implies that a woman's behavior is temporarily strange or silly, not a permanent part of her personality?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'loca' and 'loco'?
'Loca' is the feminine form, used to describe women or feminine nouns (like 'la casa loca' - the crazy house). 'Loco' is the masculine form, used for men or masculine nouns (like 'el perro loco' - the crazy dog). You must make them match!
Is it offensive to call someone 'loca'?
It depends on the tone and context. Saying '¡Estás loca!' to a friend who has a wild idea is usually fine and playful. However, calling someone 'una loca' (a crazy woman) is often meant as an insult and can be very offensive.