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How to Say "bore" in Spanish

English → Spanish

rollo

ROH-yoh/ˈro.ʎo/

nounB2informal
Use 'rollo' to describe a tedious or boring event, situation, or thing, like a dull movie or a long, uninteresting task.
A child sits slumped at a wooden table, resting their head on their hand, looking extremely bored while staring at a single, long strand of spaghetti that stretches across the table.

Examples

¡Qué rollo de película! No pasa nada interesante.

What a boring movie! Nothing interesting happens.

Tener que esperar una hora en la cola fue un rollo.

Having to wait an hour in line was a drag/hassle.

Mi jefe se pone muy rollo cuando habla de sus vacaciones.

My boss gets really boring/tedious when he talks about his vacation.

Expressing Boredom

When 'rollo' means 'bore,' it is usually used with 'ser' (to be) or in the exclamation '¡Qué rollo!' to show strong frustration or boredom.

Confusing 'Rollo' and 'Aburrido'

Mistake: “Using 'Estoy rollo' to mean 'I am bored.'”

Correction: Use 'Estoy aburrido/a' for 'I am bored.' 'Soy un rollo' means 'I am a boring person.'

plomo

/PLOH-moh//ˈplomo/

nounB2informal
Use 'plomo' to describe a person who is persistently annoying or tedious, often because they talk too much or are generally tiresome.
A man sitting on a chair looking very sleepy and bored.

Examples

Tu primo es un plomo; no para de hablar de sus sellos.

Your cousin is such a bore; he doesn't stop talking about his stamps.

¡Qué plomo de película! Me quedé dormido.

What a drag of a movie! I fell asleep.

paquete

pah-KEH-teh/paˈkete/

nounB2informal
Use 'paquete' to refer to a person who is inept, clumsy, or useless, particularly in a physical or practical context.
A clumsy person wearing sports gear stumbling and tripping over their own feet next to an untouched soccer ball.

Examples

No lo pongas a jugar al fútbol, es un paquete.

Don't put him in to play soccer, he's totally clumsy/inept.

La película fue un paquete, me aburrí muchísimo.

The movie was a bore (a dud), I got incredibly bored.

Using 'Ser' vs 'Estar'

Since this refers to a permanent quality (being inept or boring), you use the verb 'ser' (e.g., 'es un paquete').

calibre

/kah-LEE-bray//kaˈli.βɾe/

nounB1
Use 'calibre' exclusively to refer to the internal diameter of a tube or projectile, like a gun barrel or a bullet.
A close-up illustration of a single metallic bullet resting horizontally. A simplified, stylized measuring caliper is positioned around the bullet, clearly indicating its diameter.

Examples

La policía encontró balas de calibre nueve milímetros.

The police found nine-millimeter caliber bullets.

Necesitamos un cable de calibre más grueso para esta instalación eléctrica.

We need a thicker gauge wire for this electrical installation.

Always Masculine

Even though it ends in '-e', 'calibre' is always a masculine noun, so use 'el' or 'un' before it.

Bore vs. Boring: Person vs. Thing

Learners often confuse 'rollo' and 'plomo', or 'paquete'. Remember that 'rollo' describes a boring *thing* or situation, while 'plomo' and 'paquete' describe a boring or inept *person*. 'Calibre' is never used for people or experiences.

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