How to Say “Nonsense” in Spanish

Ways to say it

Spanish uses several words to describe nonsense, depending on whether you are referring to a lack of logic, an absurd statement or foolish behavior. Disparate often implies an absurd or outrageous statement. Sinsentido refers to something that lacks logic or meaning. Pamplina is often used to describe trivial or silly nonsense, while despropósito is used when the 'nonsense' involves an action or decision that is completely inappropriate or unreasonable. Other terms include contrasentido and the feminine forms parida, pamema and gaita.

What does it mean word for word?

The word sinsentido is a compound of sin (without) and sentido (sense/meaning).

Which one should you use?

While sinsentido refers to something that lacks logic or meaning, disparate often implies an absurd or outrageous statement. Pamplina is often used to describe trivial or silly nonsense, whereas despropósito implies a lack of judgment or a blunder.

Is it said differently in some regions?

In Spain, the term chorradas is used predominantly to refer to things considered trivial or nonsensical.

Related words

Resulting from the substitution of a nucleotide in a sense codon, causing it to become a stop codon (adj): sin sentido.

Emphatic rejection (intj): tonterías, tonteras, que tontería / tontera.

How does it change in a sentence?

Disparate, sinsentido, despropósito and contrasentido are masculine. Parida, pamplina, pamema and gaita are feminine. Additionally, tonterías and tonteras can be used as interjections for emphatic rejection.

How do you pronounce it?

/dispaˈɾate/