Which one should you use?
While pregunta tonta is the standard way to express the idea, you can use different forms to change the nuance: pregunta absurda emphasizes the absurdity of the question, while pregunta estúpida is a more informal way to say silly question.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the colloquial expression pregunta chorra is commonly used to refer to a silly question.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase follows the standard Spanish noun-adjective order, with the adjective tonta following the noun pregunta. To make the phrase plural, both the noun and the adjective must take the plural suffix '-s', resulting in preguntas tontas.
How do you pronounce it?
/pɾeɡunta tonta/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Because pregunta is a feminine noun, you must use the feminine adjective tonta. Avoid using the incorrect gender form pregunta tonto.
Did you know?
- To avoid sounding rude when asking a pregunta tonta, Spanish speakers often use the cushioning phrase sin ánimo de ofender, meaning 'without intending to offend'.
- The word tonta can be used as a term of endearment between romantic partners to describe a 'cute' or 'innocent' mistake.
- In Spain, the term chorra is not limited to questions but is used generally to describe 'rubbish' situations or items of very poor quality.
Examples in context
- Necesito hacerte una pregunta tonta.I need to ask you a silly question.This sentence shows how to use pregunta tonta when asking someone a question.Tatoeba #2622 by Shishir, translation #1417 by CK
- Le ruego que no me haga preguntas tontas.I beg you not to ask me silly questions.
- Por favor, evitemos cuestiones tontas en esta reunión.Please, let's avoid silly questions in this meeting.
- No me hagas preguntas estúpidas, por favor.Don't ask me stupid questions, please.
- ¡Qué pregunta más absurda! No tiene ningún sentido.What an absurd question! It makes no sense.
- ¡Vaya pregunta chorra que has hecho! Tienes que esforzarte más.What a silly question you have asked! You have to try harder.
- Espero que no vuelvas a plantear una cuestión tan chorrada.I hope you don't raise such a silly question again.
- No hagas esa pregunta tonta.Don't ask that silly question.
- Perdón por la pregunta tonta.Sorry for the silly question.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are studying together for an exam.
- AlejandroElena, ¿puedo hacerte una pregunta tonta?Elena, can I ask you a silly question?
- ElenaClaro, Alejandro, dime.Of course, Alejandro, tell me.
- Alejandro¿Realmente necesitamos leer todo el libro?Do we really need to read the whole book?
- ElenaNo es una pregunta tonta, yo también lo dudo.It's not a silly question, I doubt it too.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
