eres tonto
/eɾes tonto/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "you stupid" is expressed as eres tonto.
This phrase is used to tell someone that they are not intelligent.
Which one should you use?
The word tonto can mean "stupid" or "silly," and it is often softer than other insults. For example, it can mean "foolish" depending on your tone, whereas the word estúpido is considered more aggressive and insulting. Additionally, if you say eres un tonto, you are adding the article un to change the phrase from an adjective describing a state into a noun phrase meaning "you are a fool".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form changes based on the gender of the person you are addressing: use eres tonta when speaking to a female. The phrase is also singular.
How do you pronounce it?
/eɾes tonto/
Did you know?
- The word tonto may have originated from the Latin word tondeo, which means 'to shear' or 'to pluck'. This suggests the term once referred to someone who was 'shorn' of their wits.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, calling someone tonto can be a term of endearment between friends or a romantic partner. It is often used to mean 'silly' or 'goofy' in a playful way.
Examples in context
- No lo hagas, eres tonto.Don't do it, you are stupid.
- ¡Eres tonto si crees eso!You are stupid if you believe that!
- A veces eres tonto, pero te quiero.Sometimes you are stupid, but I love you.
Example conversation
Sofía and Javier are arguing about a silly mistake Javier made.
- Sofía¿Por qué compraste eso?Why did you buy that?
- JavierPorque estaba en oferta.Because it was on sale.
- Sofía¡Eres tonto, no lo necesitas!You are stupid, you don't need it!
- JavierLo siento, Sofía.I'm sorry, Sofia.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries eres, tonto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
