Ways to say it
| Indonesian | IPA |
|---|---|
| bodoh | /ˈbodoh/ (Standard Indonesian) |
| bebal | /bəˈbal/ (Standard Indonesian) |
| tolol | /ˈtolol/ (Standard Indonesian) |
| geblek | |
| dungu | /ˈduŋu/ (Standard Indonesian) |
| sontoloyo |
All forms provided describe a lack of intelligence or a foolish nature.
Which one should you use?
tolol is more intense and insulting than bodoh, closer to 'idiotic'. dungu is a more formal or literary term for being dim-witted or moronic. bebal specifically implies a stupidity characterized by being stubborn or slow to learn.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal contexts, you may use dungu or bebal. Use the formal phrases Tidak cerdas (not smart or not clever) or Kurang pintar (less intelligent). In informal settings, tolol is a sharper insult, while konyol refers to someone as silly or ridiculous. bego is a colloquial expression which can be translated as idiot or moron. The term sontoloyo is a highly colloquial and somewhat old-fashioned slang term used to describe someone acting foolishly or absurdly.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbodoh/
Did you know?
- The word tolol actually has European roots, as it was borrowed from the Portuguese word tolo, meaning 'foolish'.
- In Indonesian, the phrase kurang pintar literally means 'less smart', but it is used as a polite euphemism to avoid calling someone stupid.
- Unlike English, where 'stupid' can be used playfully between friends, terms like tolol are significantly sharper and can be seen as a severe attack on a person's dignity.
Examples in context
- Kamu tuli atau bodoh?Are you deaf or stupid?This sentence shows how to use bodoh in a rhetorical question about someone's senses.Tatoeba #11969065 by Pacific, translation #2968640 by Hybrid
- Itu kesalahan yang bodoh.It was a stupid mistake.This sentence uses bodoh to describe a mistake.Tatoeba #5257372 by Bilmanda, translation #2711969 by CK
- Aku tahu mereka mengira aku bodoh.I know they think I'm stupid.This sentence uses bodoh to describe how others perceive a person.Tatoeba #10102847 by HAGNi, translation #10714771 by warikdigital
- 24 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Indah and Adi are discussing a mistake Adi made at work.
- IndahAdi, kenapa kamu melakukan kesalahan bodoh itu?Adi, why did you make that stupid mistake?
- AdiMaaf, Indah, aku sedang tidak fokus.Sorry, Indah, I wasn't focusing.
- IndahLain kali, kamu harus lebih teliti.Next time, you must be more careful.
- AdiIya, aku akan memperbaikinya.Yes, I will fix it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stupid” translations and entries bodoh, bebal, tolol, dungu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bebal, bodoh, tolol, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
