tonto
everyday, Venezuela
In Venezuela the usual word for "stupid" is tonto (feminine tonta). Friends also say bobo in a lighter way, while pendejo is rude and should be kept for very informal talk.
Meaning: lacking intelligence (adjective)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| tonto | everyday, Venezuela |
| bobo | casual, mild |
| pendejo | rude, strong |
Tonto and bobo can be teasing or insulting depending on tone. No seas tonto is a common way to say "don't be silly" to a friend.
Which one should you use?
Pendejo is much stronger than bobo. It is heard a lot in everyday Venezuelan speech, but it is an insult and many people will take offense.
How does it change in a sentence?
These words are adjectives and change with the person: tonto for a man, tonta for a woman and tontos for a group.
Did you know?
- The exclamation qué tonto is a common way to say "how silly" about yourself or about an unlucky mistake.
Examples in context
- No seas tonto, eso no es verdad.Don't be silly, that is not true.
- Qué bobo eres, me asustaste.You are so silly, you scared me.
- Ese tipo es un pendejo.That guy is a jerk.
Example conversation
Carlos jokes with his friend Mariana after she forgot her keys in Caracas.
- CarlosMariana, dejaste las llaves en la mesa otra vez.Mariana, you left the keys on the table again.
- MarianaAy, qué tonta soy.Oh, how silly of me.
- CarlosNo eres tonta, solo estás distraída.You are not silly, just distracted.
