Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Idiot | /iˈdi̯oːt/ | masculine |
| Idiotin | /ʔiˈdi̯oːtin/ | feminine |
| Narr | /nar/ | masculine |
| dumme Kuh | feminine |
All forms in this list are used to describe a person of low general intelligence. Depending on the context and intensity, you might also use the informal term Depp for 'idiot', Blödmann for 'idiot' or the stronger term Trottel which can be translated as 'imbecile' or 'moron'. If you want to call someone a 'simpleton' or 'blockhead' informally, you can use Doofkopf.
Which one should you use?
While Idiot is a harsh insult regarding intelligence, Narr is an archaic or literary term meaning 'fool' that carries less aggressive weight in modern daily speech. For a gendered, colloquial insult directed specifically toward women, one might use dumme Kuh, whereas Idiot and Idiotin are more direct descriptions of intelligence.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form is Idiot. The feminine form is Idiotin. To refer to a group of people, the masculine plural is Idioten, while Idiotinnen is the feminine plural used specifically for a group of women.
How do you pronounce it?
/iˈdi̯oːt/
Did you know?
- While Idiot is a harsh insult, the word Narr is often used in literature and folk tales to describe a 'wise fool' who speaks truths through irony.
- The word Kuh descends from the Proto-Indo-European root *gʷṓws, making it a distant relative of the English word 'cow'.
- In German, the insult Doofkopf literally translates to 'stupid head'. It is a common way to call someone a 'blockhead' without being as aggressive as using Idiot.
Examples in context
- Er ist ein Idiot.He is an idiot.This sentence is useful for stating that someone is an idiot using Idiot.Tatoeba #4407756 by Dokuyaku, translation #4987741 by Zurich899
- Er ist kein Idiot.He's not an idiot.This sentence is useful for negating that someone is an idiot using Idiot.Tatoeba #840136 by Esperantostern, translation #840139 by papabear
- Was für ein Idiot!What an idiot!This sentence is useful for expressing surprise or emphasis regarding an idiot using Idiot.Tatoeba #2157696 by Vortarulo, translation #1929761 by CK
- Du bist ein richtiger Depp!You are a real idiot!
- Er ist ein echt blöder Blödmann!He is a really stupid idiot!
- Warum bist du so ein Trottel?Why are you such an idiot?
- Du bist ein echter Doofkopf!You are a real blockhead!
- 88 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix and Sarah are talking about a clumsy driver.
- FelixDieser Autofahrer ist ein totaler Idiot.That driver is a total idiot.
- SarahJa, er ist wirklich ein Idiot.Yes, he really is an idiot.
- FelixEr hat mich fast gerammt.He almost hit me.
- SarahGott sei Dank ist nichts passiert.Thank God nothing happened.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “idiot” translations and entries Idiot, Idiotin, Narr, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Idiotin, Kuh, Narr, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
