tonto
/ˈtõ.tu/
In Portuguese, tonto means foolish or silly.
The word tonto is used to describe someone who is being foolish or silly. It can also be used to describe a physical sensation of feeling dizzy or lightheaded.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazil, several other terms can convey a sense of foolishness, such as bobão, babaca, tapado and trouxa. In Portugal, you may use the informal alternatives tolinho or parvo to mean the same thing as tonto.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, tonto changes its ending to match the gender and number of the person being described: use tonta for a female, tontos for a masculine or mixed-gender group and tontas for a group of women.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and the stress is on the first syllable. The IPA transcription is /ˈtõ.tu/.
Did you know?
- The etymology of tonto remains a mystery to linguists, as its exact origin is considered unclear despite its presence in multiple Romance languages.
- In Brazil, calling someone tonto can be a playful or affectionate tease between friends rather than a harsh insult.
- While tonto describes a foolish person, the word tontura is the specific noun used to describe the physical sensation of vertigo or dizziness.
Examples in context
- Ele está um pouco tonto.He is a bit dizzy.
- Não seja tão tonto, preste atenção!Don't be so silly, pay attention!
- Ele fez um comentário muito tonto na reunião.He made a very foolish comment during the meeting.
Example conversation
Rodrigo forgets where he parked the car.
- RodrigoEu não encontro o carro!I can't find the car!
- CamilaEstá logo ali, seu tonto!It is right there, you silly man!
- RodrigoAh, é verdade. Eu esqueci.Ah, it's true. I forgot.
- CamilaVocê é muito distraído, Rodrigo.You are very distracted, Rodrigo.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry tonto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tonto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
