stultus
[ˈstʊɫ.tʊs]
The English word nincompoop is translated into Latin as stultus.
stultus is a noun used to describe a foolish or silly person. In Ecclesiastical Latin, you may also use fatuus to mean foolish or insipiens to mean senseless.
Meaning: foolish or silly person (noun)
Did you know?
- The term insipiens is the direct opposite of sapiens, the word used for a wise person and the species name for humans, 'Homo sapiens'.
- The word stultus is conceptually linked to the Proto-Indo-European root for 'stiff', suggesting that foolishness was seen as a lack of mental flexibility.
- In ancient Roman comedy, the character of the stultus was often a plot device used to highlight the cleverness of the protagonist through a series of misunderstandings.
Examples in context
- Ille homo est hebes.That man is a nincompoop.
- Noli stultus esse!Don't be a nincompoop!
- Stultus est vir.The man is a nincompoop.
Example conversation
Julia and Gaius are discussing a clumsy friend.
- JuliaVidi Marcum hodie.I saw Marcus today.
- GaiusEstne Marcus stultus?Is Marcus a fool?
- JuliaIta, Marcus est stultus.Yes, Marcus is a nincompoop.
- GaiusId scio.I know that.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry stultus, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries stultus, CC BY-SA 4.0.
