ridícula
/ree-DEE-coo-lah/
ridiculous
That teapot on her head looks absolutely ridícula (ridiculous).
ridícula(adjective)
ridiculous
?absurd or silly (feminine)
,laughable
?causing amusement, often negatively (feminine)
absurd
?lacking sense or reason (feminine)
📝 In Action
Su excusa era completamente ridícula, nadie le creyó.
A2Her excuse was completely ridiculous; no one believed her.
Llevaba una camisa ridícula para la entrevista de trabajo.
A2She was wearing a ridiculous shirt for the job interview.
Es una situación ridícula que tengamos que esperar tanto.
B1It's an absurd situation that we have to wait so long.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the Adjective
Since 'ridícula' ends in '-a', it is used to describe feminine nouns (like 'la situación' or 'la mujer'). If you were describing a masculine item or person, you would change it to 'ridículo'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Gender
Mistake: "La situación es ridículo."
Correction: La situación es ridícula. Remember to match the '-a' ending to the feminine noun 'situación'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Difference with 'Graciosa'
While 'ridícula' means something is silly or absurd, 'graciosa' means something is genuinely funny and pleasant. 'Ridícula' often carries a negative, critical tone.
The sight of her acting so foolishly means she is a ridícula (ridiculous woman).
ridícula(noun)
ridiculous woman
?a female person acting foolishly
fool
?used as an insult
,silly goose
?lightly critical nickname
📝 In Action
¡No seas una ridícula y deja de gritar en el cine!
B1Don't be a ridiculous person and stop shouting in the cinema!
La prensa la pintó como una ridícula después de su discurso.
B2The press painted her as a fool after her speech.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Used as a Person
In Spanish, you can often turn an adjective (like 'ridícula') into a noun (the person itself) by adding 'una' or 'la'. It's a quick way to name someone based on their defining characteristic.
⭐ Usage Tips
Stronger Insult
Using 'ridícula' as a noun is usually more direct and insulting than using it as an adjective (e.g., 'Eres una ridícula' is harsher than 'Tu ropa es ridícula').
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: ridícula
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'ridícula' as a noun (referring to a person)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'ridícula' y 'cómica'?
Both relate to laughter, but 'cómica' (comical) is generally positive, meaning something is genuinely funny or entertaining. 'Ridícula' (ridiculous) is usually negative, meaning something is absurd, silly, or deserving of mockery.
Is 'ridícula' always an insult?
When describing an object or situation ('una regla ridícula'), it's usually just criticism. When describing a person, it often implies a lack of dignity or sense, and can be a strong insult, especially when used as a noun ('una ridícula').