idiota
/iˈdjota/feminine, masculine
The Spanish word for idiot is idiota.
idiota is a noun used to describe a person of low general intelligence. It can also function as an adjective to describe a person or an action, such as an idiota idea.
Meaning: person of low general intelligence (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the term pendejo/a is commonly used in informal contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
idiota is an invariable noun, meaning it uses the same form for both masculine and feminine subjects.
How do you pronounce it?
/iˈdjota/
Did you know?
- The word idiota shares a root with the English word 'idiom', as both come from the Greek ídios meaning 'private' or 'peculiar'.
- Spanish has a specific phrase hacer el idiota, which means to pretend to be stupid or play dumb to avoid a responsibility.
- The word idiota originates from the Ancient Greek word idiṓtēs, which originally meant a 'layman' or a 'private person' rather than someone with low intelligence.
Examples in context
- Él no es idiota.He's not an idiot.This sentence shows how to use idiota to deny someone's intelligence.Tatoeba #1237093 by Shishir, translation #840139 by papabear
- ¿Eres idiota o qué?Are you an idiot or what?This sentence uses idiota in a rhetorical question.Tatoeba #2680839 by Mavry, translation #2681451 by iainmb93
- ¡Qué idiota que soy!What an idiot I am!This sentence uses idiota to express self-reproach.Tatoeba #943846 by hayastan, translation #410599 by CK
- María no estudió para el examen y sacó una puntuación baja. ¡Qué tonta es!María didn't study for the exam and got a low score. How foolish of her!
- 99 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are talking about a mistake a coworker made.
- AlejandroMira lo que hizo ese idiota.Look at what that idiot did.
- LucíaNo seas tan dura con él.Don't be so hard on him.
- AlejandroPero cometió un error muy básico.But he made a very basic mistake.
- LucíaA veces todos somos un poco idiotas.Sometimes we are all a bit idiots.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “idiot” translations and entries idiota, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries idiota, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
