stultus es
The English phrase "you're an idiot" is translated into Latin as stultus es.
This phrase is used to tell someone that they are stupid.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective stultus (foolish/stupid) and the verb es (you are).
Which one should you use?
The default form stultus es is masculine and is used when addressing a man or a mixed group. If you are addressing a woman, use the feminine form stulta es.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are addressing more than one person, use the plural form stulti estis.
Did you know?
- The word stultus is thought to be related to the Proto-Germanic word for 'proud', suggesting that in early Indo-European cultures, being overly proud was seen as a form of foolishness.
- In Latin comedy, such as the plays of Plautus, calling a character stultus was often a plot device to signal to the audience that the character would be tricked.
- While stultus es is a direct insult, Roman writers often used the concept of stultitia (foolishness) as a philosophical category to describe a lack of wisdom rather than just a lack of intelligence.
Examples in context
- Dolet, quod stultus es.It hurts because you're an idiot.This sentence is useful for showing how to express that something hurts because of one's foolishness using stultus es.Tatoeba #6936376 by Hans07, translation #6996346 by RudeGuyGames
- Stultus es, si hoc credis.You're an idiot if you believe this.
Example conversation
Quintus has made a very poor decision in a business deal.
- JuliaQuinte, stultus es!Quintus, you're an idiot!
- QuintusNon sum stultus, Iulia.I am not an idiot, Julia.
- JuliaIta dicis, sed stultus es.You say that, but you're an idiot.
- QuintusMea culpa.My mistake.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
