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tonto

TON-tohˈtonto

“tonto” means “silly” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

silly, foolish

Also: dumb, stupid
AdjectivemA2informal
A young character standing indoors holding an open umbrella while sunlight streams through a window, illustrating a silly or foolish moment.

📝 In Action

Fue una broma tonta, pero todos nos reímos.

A2

It was a silly joke, but we all laughed.

No seas tonto, claro que puedes hacerlo.

A2

Don't be silly, of course you can do it.

Me siento tonta por haber olvidado las llaves.

B1

I feel foolish for having forgotten the keys.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • bobo (silly, simple)
  • estúpido (stupid (stronger))
  • necio (foolish, stubborn)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • un chiste tonto – a silly joke
  • una pregunta tonta – a stupid question

Idioms & Expressions

  • a tontas y a locas – to do something haphazardly or without thinking

fool, idiot

Also: dummy, simpleton
NounmB1informal
A male character wearing a metal cooking pot upside down on his head instead of a hat, looking utterly confused and foolish.

📝 In Action

No le hagas caso, es un tonto.

B1

Don't pay attention to him, he's a fool.

¡Eres una tonta si crees esa mentira!

B1

You're an idiot if you believe that lie!

El tonto del pueblo siempre contaba las mismas historias.

B2

The village idiot always told the same stories.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • idiota (idiot)
  • imbécil (imbecile (very strong))

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • hacerse el tonto – to play dumb, to act the fool
  • el tonto útil – the useful idiot

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: tonto

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'tonto' as a playful, affectionate term?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
tontería(nonsense, foolishness) — Noun
atontado(dazed, stunned) — Adjective
atontar(to stun, to daze) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
prontomontodesconto
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word 'attonitus', which meant 'thunderstruck' or 'stunned'. Imagine someone so shocked by a loud thunderclap that they can't think straight. Over time, this idea of being dazed evolved into the modern meaning of 'foolish' or 'silly'.

First recorded: Around the 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: tontoCatalan: tonto

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'tonto' always an insult?

Not at all! It's all about tone and context. Between friends or loved ones, calling someone 'tonto' or 'tonta' can be a playful and affectionate way to say 'you're being silly'. However, if said with anger or in a serious situation, it is definitely an insult, similar to calling someone 'stupid' or an 'idiot'.

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

'Ser tonto' describes a permanent characteristic, like saying someone *is* a foolish person in general. 'Estar tonto' describes a temporary state, like saying someone is *acting* foolish or silly right now. For example, 'Hoy estoy un poco tonto, no me puedo concentrar' (I'm being a bit silly today, I can't concentrate).