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How to Say "dumb" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “dumb” is “tonto” — use 'tonto' for a general, often mild, lack of intelligence or common sense, suitable for casual conversation or describing something foolish.

English → Spanish

tonto

TON-tohˈtonto

adjectiveA2
Use 'tonto' for a general, often mild, lack of intelligence or common sense, suitable for casual conversation or describing something foolish.
A young character standing indoors holding an open umbrella while sunlight streams through a window, illustrating a silly or foolish moment.

Examples

Fue una broma tonta, pero todos nos reímos.

It was a silly joke, but we all laughed.

No seas tonto, claro que puedes hacerlo.

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

Me siento tonta por haber olvidado las llaves.

I feel foolish for having forgotten the keys.

Matching the Noun

Like many describing words in Spanish, 'tonto' changes to match the person or thing it's describing. Use 'tonto' for masculine things ('el niño tonto') and 'tonta' for feminine things ('la idea tonta'). For groups, use 'tontos' or 'tontas'.

Forgetting to Change the Ending

Mistake: “La chica es tonto.”

Correction: Say 'La chica es tonta.' Describing words almost always need to match the gender (masculine/feminine) of the noun they describe.

bobo

BOH-bohˈboβo

adjectiveA2informal
Use 'bobo' for a very mild, often affectionate, way to describe someone as silly or foolish, implying a lack of quick wit rather than true stupidity.
A child giggling while wearing a brightly colored, oversized sock on their head like a hat, illustrating lighthearted silliness.

Examples

Mi hermano es muy bobo; siempre se ríe de sus propios chistes.

My brother is very silly; he always laughs at his own jokes.

No seas tan boba y revisa el contrato antes de firmar.

Don't be so foolish and check the contract before signing.

Fue una idea muy boba salir sin paraguas cuando estaba lloviendo.

It was a very silly idea to go out without an umbrella when it was raining.

Adjective Agreement

'Bobo' must change its ending to match the person it describes: 'bobo' for males and 'boba' for females. Use 'bobos' or 'bobas' for groups.

Confusing Ser and Estar

Mistake: “Using 'estar bobo'.”

Correction: Use 'ser bobo' (to be a silly person in general). You only use 'estar' if someone is temporarily stunned or dazed: 'Estaba bobo después del golpe' (He was dazed after the hit).

estúpido

adjectiveB1neutral to informal
Choose 'estúpido' when you mean foolish or senseless, implying a more significant lack of judgment or reason than 'tonto' or 'bobo'. It can be a stronger criticism.

Examples

Esa fue una idea estúpida.

That was a stupid idea.

gilipollas

hee-lee-POY-yasxiliˈpoʎas

adjectiveB2vulgar, informal
Use 'gilipollas' only in very informal settings among friends, as it's a strong, vulgar insult meaning 'asshole' or 'complete idiot'.
A colorful storybook illustration of a person trying to fit a large square block into a small round hole.

Examples

Fue una pregunta un poco gilipollas.

It was a bit of a stupid question.

No digas cosas gilipollas.

Don't say idiotic things.

Me parece una idea bastante gilipollas.

I think it's a pretty dumb idea.

No Gender Change

Just like the noun, the adjective form stays the same for masculine or feminine things: 'un comentario gilipollas' (masculine) and 'una idea gilipollas' (feminine).

Wrong Verb Choice

Don't confuse mild with offensive

The most common mistake is using 'estúpido' or 'gilipollas' when a milder term like 'tonto' or 'bobo' would be more appropriate. 'Gilipollas' is particularly offensive and should be avoided in most situations.

Related Translations

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