Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| retrasado | /retɾaˈsado/ | masculine |
| morón (Panamá) | Puerto Rico, masculine |
The term refers to a person of mild mental subnormality.
What does it mean word for word?
The word retrasado literally means delayed or retarded in a temporal sense.
Which one should you use?
The term morón (Panamá) is a masculine form specifically used in Puerto Rico.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While historically a dated psychological term, retrasado is considered a highly offensive slur in modern Spanish. For more informal alternatives, you might use imbécil (imbecile) or the colloquial terms baboso (masculine) and babosa (feminine).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, the terms boludo and boluda are used informally to call someone a moron in a friendly manner.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender with the person being described. Use retrasado for a male and retrasada for a female.
How do you pronounce it?
/retɾaˈsado/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word baboso literally translates to 'slimy' or 'someone covered in spit', but is used colloquially to call someone a moron.
- The word morón in Panama is a loanword borrowed directly from English, either as old medical terminology or modern slang.
- While retrasado is a highly offensive slur for a person, it is the standard, polite way to describe a 'delayed' flight or 'late' train.
Examples in context
- ¡No puedo creer que olvidé traer las entradas! ¡Soy un imbécil total!I can't believe I forgot to bring the tickets! I'm a total imbecile!
- No seas babosa, sabías que él solo te está utilizando.Don't be a fool, you know he's just using you.
Example conversation
Two people are discussing a medical report from the past.
- MaríaAquí dice que el paciente era retrasado.It says here that the patient was mentally retarded.
- MateoEs un término médico muy antiguo.It is a very old medical term.
- MaríaSí, ahora usan otras palabras.Yes, they use other words now.
- MateoExacto, Mateo ya no usa ese lenguaje.Exactly, Mateo no longer uses that language.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “moron” translations and entries retrasado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries morón, CC BY-SA 4.0.
