locura
/loh-KOO-rah/
madness
The primary meaning of locura is madness or insanity, visualized here by a figure overwhelmed by chaotic, abstract thoughts.
locura(Noun)
madness
?mental illness, state of insanity
insanity
?more formal or clinical term
,craziness
?the state of being crazy
📝 In Action
El personaje principal cae en la locura al final de la novela.
B2The main character descends into madness at the end of the novel.
A veces, el estrés del trabajo me lleva al borde de la locura.
B1Sometimes, the stress from work brings me to the brink of madness.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine
Like most Spanish words ending in '-ura', 'locura' is a feminine word. That means you always use 'la' or 'una' with it, as in 'la locura' (the madness) or 'una locura' (a madness).
⭐ Usage Tips
Literal vs. Figurative
While this meaning refers to actual insanity, Spanish speakers often use it figuratively to describe a chaotic or overwhelming situation, like 'la locura del tráfico' (the madness of the traffic).
Informally, locura refers to 'a crazy thing' or a reckless, impulsive act, like quitting everything for a wild adventure.
locura(Noun)
a crazy thing
?a reckless or foolish act or idea
something crazy
?an impulsive or unconventional plan
,madness
?something chaotic, e.g., 'the madness of the sale'
📝 In Action
¡Pagar mil euros por esa camisa es una locura!
A2Paying a thousand euros for that shirt is crazy!
Dejar mi trabajo para viajar por el mundo fue la mejor locura de mi vida.
B1Quitting my job to travel the world was the best crazy thing I ever did.
La fiesta de anoche fue una auténtica locura.
A2Last night's party was absolute madness.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'un' instead of 'una'
Mistake: "Hice un locura."
Correction: Hice una locura. Remember, 'locura' is a feminine noun, so it needs the feminine article 'una' (a/an) or 'la' (the).
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressing Amazement
You'll constantly hear the phrase '¡Qué locura!' (How crazy!) in conversations. It's a very common way to react to something surprising, shocking, or unbelievable, both good and bad.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: locura
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'locura' to describe a reckless but possibly fun action?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'locura' and 'estupidez'?
'Locura' suggests something wild, reckless, or beyond the limits of normal behavior, which could even be brilliant or exciting. 'Estupidez' (stupidity) is more negative and simply means a lack of intelligence or good sense. Doing something crazy ('una locura') might turn out to be fun, while doing something stupid ('una estupidez') is almost always just a bad idea.
Can I say 'un locuro' for a crazy man?
No, that word doesn't exist. To say 'a crazy man' you would use the adjective 'loco' and say 'un hombre loco' or just 'un loco'.