tontería
/tohn-teh-REE-ah/
nonsense
The image shows a silly, nonsensical action, representing tontería meaning "nonsense."
tontería(noun)
nonsense
?silly talk or foolish ideas
foolishness
?the abstract quality of being silly
,stupidity
?lack of intelligence (slightly stronger)
📝 In Action
¡Deja de decir tonterías y escúchame!
A2Stop talking nonsense and listen to me!
No hagas una tontería como renunciar a tu trabajo.
B1Don't do something foolish like quitting your job.
Su discurso estaba lleno de tonterías sin sentido.
B2His speech was full of meaningless nonsense.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use in Plural
It is extremely common to use 'tonterías' (plural) even when referring to one instance of foolishness, especially in commands like '¡No digas tonterías!' (Don't say nonsense!).
A tiny, unimportant pebble next to a large stone visualizes tontería when it means "a trifle" or a minor matter.
tontería(noun)
trifle
?a minor matter or worry
small matter
?something unimportant
,silly item
?a small, unnecessary purchase
📝 In Action
No te enfades por esa tontería; no es importante.
B1Don't get angry over that trifle; it's not important.
Gasta demasiado dinero en tonterías que no necesita.
B2He spends too much money on silly things he doesn't need.
💡 Grammar Points
Diminutives
While 'tontería' already means something small and silly, you might occasionally hear 'tonteríta' to emphasize how truly insignificant something is.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: tontería
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'tontería' to mean a 'minor problem or trifle,' rather than 'nonsense'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'tontería' y 'estupidez'?
Both mean foolishness, but 'estupidez' (stupidity) is generally a much stronger and harsher word, implying a greater lack of intelligence or a much more serious mistake. 'Tontería' is often used gently for lighthearted silliness or minor errors.
If I say 'Está hablando tonterías,' does it mean he is saying one silly thing or many?
Even though 'tonterías' is plural, in this context, it usually refers to the general concept of 'nonsense' or 'silly talk,' which could be one continuous string of senseless comments or many small ones. It functions like the English abstract noun 'nonsense'.