¿eres tonto?
The English phrase "are you stupid?" is translated into Spanish as ¿eres tonto?
This phrase is a question used to ask if someone lacks intelligence or is acting foolishly. While it can be a direct question about intelligence, it is often used as an exclamation of disbelief when someone does something silly.
Which one should you use?
Additionally, using the word idiota in the phrase ¿eres idiota? is generally more insulting and aggressive than using tonto.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The informal ways to say this are ¿eres tonto? and ¿eres estúpido? The formal ways to say this are ¿Es usted tonto? and ¿Es usted estúpido?
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective changes to the feminine form if you are addressing a woman, resulting in ¿eres tonta?
Did you know?
- If the theory of its origin from the Latin 'tondeo' is correct, then calling someone tonto is etymologically linked to the act of shearing a sheep.
- The word tonto is so common that it can sometimes be used affectionately between friends to mean 'silly', a nuance that 'idiota' lacks.
- In some regions, people use the phrase ¿estás tonto? using the verb 'to be' for temporary states instead of eres tonto?
Examples in context
- Disculpe, ¿es usted tonto? Su comportamiento es inaceptable.Excuse me, are you foolish? Your behavior is unacceptable.
- No me digas eso, ¿eres tonto?Don't tell me that, are you stupid?
Example conversation
Javier forgot to bring the documents to a meeting.
- ElenaJavier, ¿eres tonto?Javier, are you stupid?
- JavierNo, es que tuve un día muy largo.No, it's just that I had a very long day.
- ElenaPero es un error muy básico.But it is a very basic mistake.
- JavierLo siento, no volverá a pasar.I'm sorry, it won't happen again.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries eres, tonto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
