tontas
/TON-tahs/
silly
A silly girl wearing a colander as a hat.
tontas(adjective)
silly
?describing girls or feminine objects
foolish
?lacking good sense
,dumb
?informal way to say unintelligent
📝 In Action
Esas bromas son un poco tontas.
A1Those jokes are a bit silly.
Ellas no son tontas; saben exactamente lo que hacen.
A2They aren't foolish; they know exactly what they are doing.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching Gender and Number
This word is the feminine, plural form. Use it only when you are talking about more than one girl or 'feminine' objects (like 'ideas' or 'preguntas').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using with Mixed Groups
Mistake: "Using 'tontas' for a group of boys and girls."
Correction: Use 'tontos' (the masculine plural) if there is even one male in the group you are describing.
⭐ Usage Tips
Softening the Blow
To make it sound less mean and more 'cute' or 'playful,' people often say 'tontuelas' or 'tontitas' instead.
A group of girls being silly together.
📝 In Action
¡No sean tontas, vengan a la fiesta!
A2Don't be fools, come to the party!
💡 Grammar Points
Turning Descriptors into People
In Spanish, you can often use a describing word as a name for a person. Instead of saying 'silly people,' you just say 'tontas' to mean 'the silly ones' (female).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: tontas
Question 1 of 1
Which of these would you describe as 'tontas'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'tontas' a mean word?
It depends on the tone! It can be a harsh insult, but among friends, it's often used playfully to mean 'silly' or 'goofy'.
Can I use 'tontas' for a group of mixed genders?
No. In Spanish, if there is one male in the group, the grammar rules require you to use the masculine form: 'tontos'.