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ridículo

ree-DEE-koo-loh/riˈðikulo/

“ridículo” means “ridiculous” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

ridiculous

Also: ludicrous, absurd
A cartoonish person wearing a tiny, brightly colored top hat and enormous, mismatched shoes, standing in a silly pose on a plain background.

📝 In Action

Llevar un abrigo en verano es ridículo.

A2

Wearing a coat in summer is ridiculous.

La cantidad de dinero que piden me parece ridícula.

B1

The amount of money they are asking for seems ridiculous to me.

Sus excusas eran tan ridículas que nadie le creyó.

B2

His excuses were so ridiculous that nobody believed him.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • una idea ridícula – a ridiculous idea
  • un precio ridículo – a ridiculous price

ridicule

Also: laughingstock, mockery
NounmB1
One stylized cartoon figure pointing and laughing loudly at a second figure, who looks embarrassed, demonstrating mockery.

📝 In Action

Si lo intentas, quizás hagas el ridículo, ¡pero es divertido!

B1

If you try it, you might make a fool of yourself, but it's fun!

Se sintió expuesto al ridículo de sus compañeros.

B2

He felt exposed to the ridicule of his colleagues.

Nadie quiere caer en el ridículo delante de tanta gente.

C1

Nobody wants to fall into ridicule (make a fool of themselves) in front of so many people.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • burla (mockery)
  • escarnio (scorn)

Common Collocations

  • hacer el ridículo – to make a fool of oneself
  • caer en el ridículo – to fall into ridicule

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "ridículo" in Spanish:

laughingstock→ludicrous→ridicule→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: ridículo

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses the noun form of 'ridículo'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
ridiculizar(to ridicule) — Verb
ridiculez(ridiculousness) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
artículovehículo
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes directly from the Latin word *ridiculus*, which meant 'laughable' or 'amusing,' based on the Latin verb *ridēre*, meaning 'to laugh.' Over time, the meaning shifted slightly in Spanish to focus more on the absurdity or mockery inherent in the laughter.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: ridicoloFrench: ridicule

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'ridículo' used to mean funny, like a joke?

Not usually. In Spanish, 'ridículo' almost always carries a negative connotation of being absurd, silly, or deserving of mockery. For something that is just funny in a positive way, you would use words like 'gracioso' or 'chistoso'.

What's the difference between 'ser ridículo' and 'estar ridículo'?

Use 'ser ridículo' (Ser) to describe someone's permanent trait or behavior ('He is a ridiculous person'). Use 'estar ridículo' (Estar) to describe a temporary state, usually relating to clothing or appearance at a moment in time ('You look ridiculous in that outfit right now').