How to Say "nonsense" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “nonsense” is “tontería” — use this for general silly talk, foolish ideas, or something that simply doesn't make sense in a common, everyday way.
tontería
Examples
¡Deja de decir tonterías y escúchame!
Stop talking nonsense and listen to me!
disparate
dis-pah-RAH-tehdis.paˈɾa.te
Examples
¡Lo que estás diciendo es un disparate!
What you are saying is nonsense!
Comprar esa casa vieja por ese precio es un disparate.
Buying that old house for that price is a crazy idea.
No digas más disparates y dime la verdad.
Stop talking nonsense and tell me the truth.
Always Masculine
Even though it ends in 'e', this word is always masculine. You must use 'el' or 'un' before it (el disparate).
Working with Action Words
This word is most often paired with 'decir' (to say) or 'hacer' (to do). You 'say a disparate' when you talk nonsense, and you 'do a disparate' when you make a crazy mistake.
The 'Different' Trap
Mistake: “Using 'disparate' to mean 'different' or 'diverse' because it looks like the English word.”
Correction: In Spanish, 'disparate' means nonsense. If you want to say 'different,' use 'diferente' or 'distinto'.
Missing the Article
Mistake: “Saying 'Es disparate.'”
Correction: Say 'Es un disparate.' Spanish usually requires the 'a' (un) when labeling something as nonsense.
estupideces
es-too-pee-DEH-sesestupiˈðeθes
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.
idiotez
ee-dee-oh-tessi.ðjoˈteθ
Examples
¡Qué idiotez acabo de hacer!
What a stupid thing I just did!
No perdamos el tiempo con esa idiotez.
Let's not waste time with that nonsense.
Me da rabia haber fallado por una idiotez.
It makes me angry to have failed because of something so stupid.
Spelling Change in Plural
When you have more than one 'idiotez,' the 'z' at the end changes to a 'c' before adding '-es'. So, it becomes 'idioteces'.
Using 'Una' for Actions
In Spanish, we often say 'una idiotez' (a stupidity) to refer to a single specific action or remark, whereas in English we'd more likely say 'a stupid thing'.
Person vs. Action
Mistake: “Eres una idiotez.”
Correction: Eres un idiota.
bolas
BOH-lahsˈbo.las
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).
delirio
deh-LEE-ryohdeˈliɾjo
Examples
¡Esa fiesta fue un delirio total!
That party was total madness!
Es un delirio pensar que podemos viajar mañana sin maletas.
It's nonsense to think we can travel tomorrow without suitcases.
Su amor por ese cantante es un auténtico delirio.
Her love for that singer is a real craze.
Using 'ser' with Delirio
When you want to say something is 'crazy' or 'nonsense', use 'Es un delirio'.
Too Heavy?
Mistake: “Esa película es un delirio (when you just mean it was slightly confusing).”
Correction: Use 'delirio' for something truly over-the-top or nonsensical. For small things, 'una tontería' is better.
cuento
KWEN-tohˈkwen̪.t̪o
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.
barbaridad
bar-bah-ree-DAHDbaɾβaɾiˈðað
Examples
¡Qué barbaridad estás diciendo!
What nonsense are you talking!
Es una barbaridad que cierren el hospital.
It's outrageous that they are closing the hospital.
Cometió una barbaridad al dejar su trabajo sin tener otro.
He did something crazy by quitting his job without having another one.
The 'Exclamation' Pattern
Use '¡Qué barbarity!' on its own to react to almost anything shocking—good or bad.
Not just for 'bad' things
Mistake: “Thinking it only means 'cruelty'.”
Correction: Use it for anything excessive or silly.
historias
ees-TOH-ryahsisˈtoɾjas
Examples
No me creo esas historias que me cuentas.
I don't believe those stories (or 'tales') you tell me.
¿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.
paja
PA-haˈpaxa
Examples
El artículo es bueno, pero tiene mucha paja.
The article is good, but it has a lot of filler.
Quita la paja y ve directo al grano.
Get rid of the fluff and get straight to the point.
Su discurso fue pura paja.
His speech was pure nonsense/hot air.
Using 'Mucho' with Paja
When 'paja' means fluff or filler, we usually talk about the 'amount' of it. Use 'mucha paja' (a lot of filler).
Literal vs. Figurative
Mistake: “Thinking someone is talking about farming when they say 'quitar la paja' in a meeting.”
Correction: In a work or school context, they almost always mean 'get rid of the unnecessary parts'.
ca
kahka
Examples
—¿Crees que ha terminado? —¡Qué ca!
—Do you think he's finished? —No way!
—¿Te molestó lo que dije? —¡Ca! No te preocupes.
—Did what I said bother you? —Not at all! Don't worry about it.
—¿Va a ganar ese equipo? —¡Ca! Son malísimos.
—Is that team going to win? —Nonsense! They are terrible.
Using it for Emphasis
This word is used alone or with 'qué' to strongly say 'no' to what someone just suggested.
Don't confuse with 'K' or 'Ca' in Chemistry
Mistake: “Thinking it is an abbreviation.”
Correction: In spoken Spanish, '¡Ca!' is its own word for denial, not a short version of something else.
pelotas
peh-LOH-tahspeˈlotas
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'.
Choosing Between General Nonsense Words
Related Translations
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