estás loco
/estas loko/from spelling rules
The English phrase "you're crazy" is expressed in Spanish as estás loco.
This expression is used to tell someone that their ideas or actions are irrational or foolish.
Which one should you use?
Using the verb estás implies that the person is experiencing a temporary state of being crazy. In contrast, saying eres loco would imply that being crazy is a permanent personality trait.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, you can use the phrase Estás loco/a como una cabra. to mean "you're crazy like a goat". In Spain, a lighthearted way to say you are crazy is Estás como una regadera, which translates to "you're like a watering can".
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must change to the feminine form loca if you are speaking to a woman.
Did you know?
- The word loco might actually have roots in Andalusian Arabic, specifically from the word lawqāʔ, which means 'stupid'.
- The phrase estás loco is often used as a reaction to a price that is far too high, implying the seller is 'crazy' to ask for so much money.
- In Spanish, the word locura meaning 'craziness' is frequently used to describe an act of great passion or a romantic impulse.
Examples in context
- Estás loco.You're crazy.This is a simple statement of the phrase.Tatoeba #589639 by Leono, translation #2047350 by AlanF_US
- ¡Estás loco!You're crazy!This is an exclamatory version of the phrase.Tatoeba #940800 by Shishir, translation #664251 by BlueLagoon
- "Profesor, ¿qué ha pasado?" – "Chicos, mi naranja estaba tratando de apoderarse del mundo con su negro … bigote!" – "Estás loco, ¿verdad?" – "Correcto.""Professor, what happened?" "Guys, my orange was trying to seize the world with his black… moustache!" "You're crazy, right?" "Right."This illustrates a conversational context using the phrase estás loco.Tatoeba #5990533 by albrusgher, translation #2841484 by Ooneykcall
- Estás chiflado/a si crees que puedo hacer eso.You're crazy if you think I can do that.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and María are talking about a wild travel plan.
- Daniel¡Quiero ir a la Antártida el próximo mes!I want to go to Antarctica next month!
- MaríaDaniel, estás loco, no tenemos tanto dinero.Daniel, you're crazy, we don't have that much money.
- DanielEs una aventura increíble.It is an incredible adventure.
- MaríaNo, es una locura.No, it is madness.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries loco, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
