estúpido
/esˈtupido/
The English word 'stupid' is translated into Spanish as estúpido. Wiktionary also lists gilí and pendejo.
Meaning: lacking in intelligence (adj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| estúpido | /esˈtupido/ |
| gilí | /xiˈli/ |
| pendejo | /penˈdexo/ |
| tonto | /ˈtonto/ |
These words are used to describe someone or something as lacking in intelligence.
Which one should you use?
While estúpido is a harsh insult, tonto is a milder term often used to mean 'silly' or 'foolish' and is less offensive. The word pendejo is a vulgar slang term that is much more offensive than estúpido and is used to insult someone's intelligence or character.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective estúpido must agree in gender with the noun it modifies, changing to estúpida for feminine nouns. The plural form estúpidos is used when referring to a group of males or a mixed-gender group.
How do you pronounce it?
/esˈtupido/
Did you know?
- The slang term pendejo originally referred to a small comb or even pubic hair in Latin.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, pendejo is used not just for stupidity but to describe someone who is easily manipulated or a 'sucker'.
- The word tonto is shared across several Romance languages, appearing as tonto in Italian and Portuguese and tont in Romanian.
Examples in context
- Él no es estúpido.He is not stupid.This sentence demonstrates the use of estúpido in a negative statement.Tatoeba #535492 by Leono, translation #302395 by CK
- No te dije estúpido.I didn't call you stupid.This sentence shows how to use estúpido when denying an insult.Tatoeba #3390081 by marcelostockle, translation #2275824 by CK
- Mi amigo es estúpido.My friend is stupid.This sentence provides a simple example of using estúpido to describe a person.Tatoeba #2112500 by hayastan, translation #2063996 by scorpione24r
- 226 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are discussing a bad movie they just watched.
- AlejandroLa trama de la película es estúpida.The plot of the movie is stupid.
- MaríaSí, es un guion muy estúpido.Yes, it is a very stupid script.
- AlejandroMaría, ¿viste ese final?María, did you see that ending?
- MaríaFue un final totalmente estúpido.It was a totally stupid ending.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stupid” translations and entries estúpido, gilí, pendejo, tonto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries estúpido, gilí, pendejo, tonto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
