How to Say "joker" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “joker” is “payaso” — B1 level.
English → SpanishB1
nounB1informal
silly or foolish person
Examples
No seas payaso y compórtate seriamente.
Don't be a clown (a fool) and behave seriously.
Mi hermano es un payaso; siempre está haciendo chistes malos.
My brother is a joker; he's always telling bad jokes.
Acting as an Adjective
While technically a noun, 'payaso' is often used descriptively, just like an adjective: 'Eres un payaso' (You are a fool).
Using 'Payaso' vs. 'Tonto'
Mistake: “Using 'payaso' for someone who is genuinely unintelligent.”
Correction: 'Payaso' usually implies deliberate silliness or foolish behavior. If someone lacks intelligence, 'tonto' or 'estúpido' are more appropriate, though harsher.
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