Inklingo

How to Say "dumbass" in Spanish

The Spanish word fordumbassis pendejoC1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.

English → SpanishC1
nounC1slang
very informal insult
A silly person wearing a dunce cap sitting on a colorful stool.

Examples

¡No seas pendejo! Esa oferta es una estafa.

Don't be an idiot! That offer is a scam.

Ese pendejo me chocó el coche y se fue.

That jerk hit my car and drove away.

Me siento como un pendejo por haber creído su mentira.

I feel like a dumbass for believing his lie.

Using it as a label vs. description

You can use this word as a label ('un pendejo') or as a describing word ('él es muy pendejo'). It changes to 'pendeja' when talking about a female.

Softening with 'ser'

When used with 'no seas' (don't be), it is often a warning to a friend, whereas 'él es' (he is) is a direct insult.

High Offense Risk

Mistake:Using this word with people you don't know well.

Correction: Only use this word with very close friends in casual settings, or avoid it entirely, as it is a strong swear word in many countries.

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