estás loco
/estas loko/from spelling rules
The English phrase "you're mad" is translated into Spanish as estás loco.
The phrase can be used literally to describe mental illness, but it is very commonly used colloquially to mean "you're crazy" or "you're kidding" in response to an unbelievable idea.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, enfadado/a and cabreado/a are frequently used to express anger. In some Latin American countries, enojado/a is commonly replaced with furioso/a to convey a stronger sense of anger.
How does it change in a sentence?
If the person you are speaking to is female, you must change the masculine adjective loco to the feminine loca to say estás loca.
Did you know?
- In certain South American contexts, the term loco is used as a very informal way to address a friend, similar to saying 'dude' or 'mate' in English.
- The word loco may have roots in Andalusian Arabic, where it might have been reinterpreted from a word meaning 'stupid'.
- Spanish has a specific word desquiciado for someone who has 'lost their hinges', often used as a more dramatic version of loco.
Examples in context
- Creo que estás loco.I think you're mad.Tatoeba #2741682 by Shishir, translation #2458584 by CK
- ¡Estás loco si crees eso!You're mad if you believe that!
- Sin duda, estás loco por ella.Without a doubt, you're mad about her.
Example conversation
Javier tells Sofía he wants to jump into a freezing lake.
- Sofía¡No lo hagas, Javier!Don't do it, Javier!
- JavierSolo será un segundo.It will only be a second.
- SofíaDe verdad estás loco.You're really mad.
- JavierTengo ganas de probarlo.I feel like trying it.
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.
