chiflado
/t͡ʃiˈflado/
The English phrase 'nutjob' is translated into Spanish as chiflado.
This term is used to describe a person who behaves in a strange or crazy way.
Which one should you use?
While chiflado is an informal way to describe someone as crazy, pirado/a is a colloquial term specifically for someone who is unhinged or acts in peculiar ways.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Chiflado is an informal term. It is less harsh than clinical terms for mental illness, but it is still used to mock someone's behavior.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you may also use chalado/a or zumbado/a to convey the idea of someone being crazy.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective changes its ending based on gender and number. Use chiflada when referring to a female nutjob, and use the masculine plural chiflados for a group of male or mixed-gender nutjobs.
How do you pronounce it?
/tʃiˈflado/
Did you know?
- While chiflado describes a nutjob, the verb chiflar is also used to express a strong liking for something. For example, me chifla means 'I love it' or 'it drives me wild'.
- The word chiflar originally referred to the sound of a whistle. Over time, the idea of having a 'whistling' or 'leaking' head evolved into the meaning of being crazy.
- The term zumbado for a nutjob is an onomatopoeic insult. It mimics the 'buzzing' sound of an insect, implying the person's brain is nothing but a buzzing hive.
Examples in context
- ¿Habías visto a Juan? ¡Está chiflado! Ayer salió a la calle con un paraguas en pleno sol.Have you seen Juan? He's totally nuts! Yesterday, he went out on the street with an umbrella in broad daylight.
- Ese hombre es un chiflado.That man is a nutjob.
- No escuches a ese chiflado.Don't listen to that nutjob.
- Mi vecino es un chiflado total.My neighbor is a total nutjob.
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are talking about a strange man in the park.
- MaríaMira a ese hombre, ¡está chiflado!Look at that man, he's a nutjob!
- AlejandroEs verdad, hace cosas muy raras.It's true, he does very strange things.
- María¿Crees que sea peligroso, Alejandro?Do you think he's dangerous, Alejandro?
- AlejandroNo, solo parece un chiflado inofensivo.No, he just seems like a harmless nutjob.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry chiflado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chiflado, CC BY-SA 4.0.
