leso
casual, Chile
In Chile a common word for dumb is leso, or lesa for a woman. The general word tonto also works, and hacerse el leso means to pretend not to understand.
Meaning: foolish, silly, slow to understand (adjective)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| leso | casual, Chile |
| tonto | neutral |
| hacerse el leso | phrase, Chile |
Chileans say No seas leso for do not be silly. The tone depends on the speaker, and with friends it is often mild teasing.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Calling someone leso to their face can still hurt. Tonto is milder in many contexts, and neither is polite in a formal setting.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Leso is typical of Chile. Elsewhere in the Spanish-speaking world other words are used for dumb.
Did you know?
- The word leso is found in Chilean Spanish dictionaries as a colloquial adjective.
Examples in context
- No seas leso, fíjate bien.Do not be dumb, look carefully.
- Se hizo el leso cuando le cobraron.He played dumb when they asked him to pay.
- Qué tonto fui.How dumb I was.
Example conversation
Pilar scolds her brother Matías for forgetting the keys in their Santiago apartment.
- PilarMatías, dejaste las llaves adentro.Matías, you left the keys inside.
- MatíasQué leso soy.How dumb I am.
- PilarLlamemos al conserje.Let us call the concierge.
