Inklingo

How to Say "nonsense" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “nonsense” is “tontería” — use this word for general silly talk, foolish ideas, or a foolish action that someone says or does..

tonteríaA2

Use this word for general silly talk, foolish ideas, or a foolish action that someone says or does.

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bolas🔊B1

Use 'bolas' informally to describe talk that is untrue, empty, or a lie, similar to 'rubbish' or 'baloney'.

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estupideces🔊B1

Use this plural form when referring to multiple silly or foolish things that have been said or done.

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cuento🔊B1

Use 'cuento' when someone is telling an unbelievable story or making up an excuse that you don't believe.

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historias🔊B2

While 'historias' can mean 'stories', it's used informally to mean 'tall tales' or fabricated accounts when someone is exaggerating or lying.

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pelotas🔊C2

Use this highly informal interjection to express strong disbelief or to emphatically state that someone knows nothing about a topic.

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English → Spanish

tontería

nounA2
Use this word for general silly talk, foolish ideas, or a foolish action that someone says or does.

Examples

¡Deja de decir tonterías y escúchame!

Stop talking nonsense and listen to me!

bolas

BOH-lahs/ˈbo.las/

nounB1informal
Use 'bolas' informally to describe talk that is untrue, empty, or a lie, similar to 'rubbish' or 'baloney'.
A friendly fox wearing a clumsy, oversized chicken costume, attempting to look innocent, symbolizing a lie or falsehood.

Examples

Eso que dijo tu amigo son puras bolas.

What your friend said is total nonsense (or 'pure lies').

No le creas, siempre echa bolas.

Don't believe him, he always tells lies.

Context is Key

When 'bolas' follows 'ser' (to be) and means 'lies,' it is often used with the plural adjective 'puras' (pure/total).

estupideces

/es-too-pee-DEH-ses//estupiˈðeθes/

nounB1informal
Use this plural form when referring to multiple silly or foolish things that have been said or done.
A colorful illustration of a silly jester hat with bells sitting on a table next to a rubber duck.

Examples

No digas más estupideces y escucha.

Stop saying more nonsense and listen.

Perdí mucho dinero haciendo estupideces.

I lost a lot of money doing stupid things.

¡Qué cantidad de estupideces dice ese hombre!

That man says so much rubbish!

Making it plural

This word is the plural of 'estupidez'. In Spanish, words that end in 'z' change the 'z' to a 'c' before adding 'es' to make them plural.

The 'idad' trap

Mistake: “Saying 'estupidades'.”

Correction: The correct word is 'estupideces'. English speakers often try to use '-idad' (like 'stupidity'), but Spanish uses '-ez' for this specific word.

cuento

KWEN-toh/ˈkwen̪.t̪o/

nounB1
Use 'cuento' when someone is telling an unbelievable story or making up an excuse that you don't believe.
A cartoon character standing awkwardly, attempting to hide a large, ridiculously fake object behind their back, symbolizing a lie.

Examples

¡Ese es un cuento muy viejo! No te creo nada.

That's a very old excuse! I don't believe anything you say.

Siempre viene con el mismo cuento de que el tráfico fue terrible.

He always comes up with the same story/excuse about the traffic being terrible.

No me vengas con cuentos, sé la verdad.

Don't give me any of your nonsense; I know the truth.

historias

ees-TOH-ryahs/isˈtoɾjas/

nounB2informal
While 'historias' can mean 'stories', it's used informally to mean 'tall tales' or fabricated accounts when someone is exaggerating or lying.
A frustrated person looking at a huge, complex knot of brightly colored, tangled rope.

Examples

No me vengas con historias, dime la verdad.

Don't come to me with tall tales, tell me the truth.

¿Viste las historias que subió Marta hoy? Estuvo de viaje.

Did you see the Stories Marta uploaded today? She was traveling.

Déjame de historias, dime la verdad de lo que pasó.

Stop with the drama (or excuses), tell me the truth about what happened.

Use with 'Dejar'

The expression 'Déjame de historias' uses the special command form of 'dejar' (to leave/stop) to tell someone to cut the drama.

pelotas

/peh-LOH-tahs//peˈlotas/

interjectionC2very informal
Use this highly informal interjection to express strong disbelief or to emphatically state that someone knows nothing about a topic.
A simplified cartoon figure standing with both arms raised, palms open and facing forward, shrugging emphatically in a gesture of absolute emptiness and denial.

Examples

¿Que si sabe cocinar? ¡Sabe pelotas!

Does he know how to cook? He knows nothing!

—¿Me vas a ayudar mañana? —¡Pelotas!

—Are you going to help me tomorrow? —No way! (or 'Nonsense!')

Intensifier

When used after 'no' or 'ni,' 'pelotas' acts as a strong intensifier, making the negation much stronger than just saying 'no' or 'nada'.

Confusing 'tontería' with 'bolas' or 'estupideces'

Learners often confuse 'tontería' (general silliness) with 'bolas' or 'estupideces', which imply more deliberate untruths or a greater degree of foolishness. Use 'tontería' for milder foolishness and 'bolas'/'estupideces' when you mean 'lies' or 'stupid things'.

Related Translations

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