cabeza hueca
/kabeθa weka/from spelling rules
The English phrase "stupid head" is translated into Spanish as cabeza hueca.
The term is an insult used to describe someone who is foolish or lacks intelligence.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, cabeza hueca translates to "hollow head", implying that the person's head is empty of thoughts or intelligence.
Which one should you use?
While cabeza hueca is used for a stupid head, the informal phrase Cabeza de chorlito is used to describe someone who is scatterbrained or airy-headed.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective hueca must agree in gender with the feminine noun cabeza. To make the phrase plural, both the noun cabeza and the adjective hueca must take the plural suffix -s, resulting in cabezas huecas.
Did you know?
- Spanish has a variety of 'head' insults based on objects, such as cabeza de alcornoque for someone as dense as a cork tree.
- The word cabeza is a linguistic oddity because it comes from a Latin neuter plural word that was mistaken for a feminine singular word over time.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, calling someone a cabeza hueca is often seen as a much lighter, almost playful insult than the English 'stupid head'.
Examples in context
- Eres una cabeza de chorlito, siempre te olvidas de todo.You are such a scatterbrained person, you always forget everything.
Example conversation
Mateo and María are arguing about a mistake Mateo made.
- MateoOlvidé cerrar la puerta con llave.I forgot to lock the door.
- María¡Eres un cabeza hueca, Mateo!You are a stupid head, Mateo!
- MateoLo siento, fue un error.I'm sorry, it was a mistake.
- MaríaTen más cuidado la próxima vez.Be more careful next time.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cabeza, CC BY-SA 4.0.
