Inklingo

How to Say "silly person" in Spanish

English → Spanish

pavo

PAH-vohˈpaβo

nounB1informal
Use 'pavo' when referring to someone who is clueless, acts foolishly, or is generally unaware of what's going on around them.
A person with a confused expression wearing a metal cooking pot upside down on their head like a hat.

Examples

¡Qué pavo eres! ¿Cómo se te ocurrió hacer eso?

What an idiot you are! How did you think of doing that?

Mi hermano es un poco pavo cuando intenta hablar con chicas.

My brother is a bit clueless/awkward when he tries to talk to girls.

Using 'Pavo' as an Adjective

This word can also be used as an adjective (a describing word) meaning 'silly' or 'awkward.' Example: 'Está un poco pavo' (He is a bit awkward).

Gender Agreement

Mistake: “Using 'el pavo' to refer to a silly girl.”

Correction: When referring to a silly female, you must use the feminine form: 'Ella es una pava' (She is a silly girl).

indio

IN-dyohˈin.djo

nounC1informal insult
Use 'indio' as a stronger, more offensive insult for someone acting like an idiot or doing something particularly foolish.
A simplistic storybook illustration showing a character with a bewildered expression wearing a traditional dunce cap, symbolizing foolishness.

Examples

¡No seas indio! ¿Cómo se te ocurre hacer eso?

Don't be an idiot! How did you think of doing that?

Se portó como un indio en la reunión y ofendió a todos.

He behaved like an uncivilized person at the meeting and offended everyone.

Used as a Noun

In this informal usage, 'indio' acts as a noun describing a person. It changes gender/number: 'la india' (the stupid woman), 'los indios' (the stupid people).

lila

LEE-lahˈlila

nounB2informal
Choose 'lila' to describe someone who is naive, easily fooled, or perhaps a bit too trusting.
A friendly person with a wide, confused smile wearing a colorful hat with a spinning propeller.

Examples

No seas lila y no les des tu dinero.

Don't be a fool and don't give them your money.

Me engañaron porque fui un poco lila.

They tricked me because I was a bit naive.

Quedó como un lila delante de todos.

He looked like a fool in front of everyone.

Gender of the person

Even though 'lila' ends in 'a', you can use it for both men and women. For a man, you say 'un lila'; for a woman, 'una lila'.

Not for Formal Talk

Mistake: “Using this in a business meeting.”

Correction: This is very informal. Use 'ingenuo' (naive) in professional settings instead.

Confusing 'pavo', 'indio', and 'lila'

Learners often confuse these terms, but 'indio' is a harsher insult than 'pavo' or 'lila'. While 'pavo' implies general cluelessness, 'lila' specifically points to naivety and being easily tricked.

Related Translations

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