Inklingo

How to Say "dumb" in Spanish

English → Spanish

tonto

/TON-toh//ˈtonto/

adjectiveA2neutral to informal
Use 'tonto' for a general lack of intelligence or for something foolish, but be aware it can sometimes sound harsher than intended.
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-boh/ˈboβo/

adjectiveA2informal
Choose 'bobo' for a very mild, often affectionate, way to describe someone as silly or a bit foolish, without intending to offend.
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

/eh-STOO-pee-doh//esˈtu.pi.ðo/

adjectiveB1neutral to strong
Use 'estúpido' when you want to clearly label an action or idea as senseless or foolish, as it's a more direct and stronger term.
A cartoon man attempting to hammer a nail into a wall using a fluffy pillow instead of a hammer, showing a lack of common sense or a stupid idea.

Examples

Esa fue una idea estúpida.

That was a stupid idea.

Me sentí muy estúpido cuando me di cuenta de mi error.

I felt very stupid when I realized my mistake.

No hagas preguntas estúpidas.

Don't ask stupid questions.

Matching the Noun

Like most Spanish adjectives, 'estúpido' changes to match the person or thing it describes. Use 'estúpida' for feminine things ('una idea estúpida') and add an 's' for plural things ('chistes estúpidos').

Using it too lightly

Mistake: “Thinking 'estúpido' means 'silly', like you might say in English, "Oh, I forgot my keys, how silly of me!"”

Correction: In Spanish, 'estúpido' is a much stronger and more negative word. For 'silly', it's better to use 'tonto' or 'qué despistado soy' (how absent-minded I am).

Tonto vs. Bobo

Learners often confuse 'tonto' and 'bobo'. While both mean silly or foolish, 'bobo' is generally softer and more affectionate, whereas 'tonto' can sometimes carry a harsher edge, even if used for something minor.

Related Translations

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