tonto
Wordform Details
Translation: foolishsillystupid
Part of Speech: adjective
Inflection Type:
masculinesingularIs Dictionary Form: Yes
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma Details
Translation: silly; foolish; stupid; dumb
Part of Speech: adjective
Etymology: Derived from Latin 'attonitus' meaning 'thunderstruck' or 'stunned', which came from the verb 'attonare' (to stun, to astonish). The word evolved to describe someone who appears mentally stunned or slow-witted. The connection to being 'thunderstruck' suggests the original meaning referred to someone who was so shocked or surprised that they temporarily lost their mental faculties.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 20%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
No seas tonto, sabes que eso no es verdad.
Don't be silly, you know that's not true.
Hice una tontería y perdí las llaves.
I did something stupid and lost the keys.
Mi hermano pequeño es un poco tonto, pero muy cariñoso.
My little brother is a bit silly, but very affectionate.
¡Qué tonta soy! Olvidé tu cumpleaños.
How silly I am! I forgot your birthday.
Mnemonics
- Think of someone being hit by thunder ('attonitus') and becoming temporarily 'stunned' or 'silly'.
- Associate with the English word 'atonic' (lacking normal tone or strength) – someone who is 'tonto' lacks mental strength.
- The Lone Ranger's sidekick was named 'Tonto', which many English speakers already associate with this word.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Antonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking cultures, 'tonto' is a common mild insult, but can also be used affectionately between friends or family members. It's less harsh than other words for stupidity like 'estúpido'. The feminine form 'tonta' is equally common. In some contexts, especially when used with diminutives like 'tontito', it can be endearing rather than insulting.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Tonto' means 'silly' or 'foolish', while 'tanto' means 'so much' or 'so many'. They differ by just one vowel but have completely different meanings and uses.
Confused word:
No tengo tanto dinero.
I don't have so much money.
Notes: The stress in both words falls on the first syllable, making them sound very similar in rapid speech.
Mnemonic: 'TontO' has an 'O' at the end, like the 'O' in 'fOOlish', while 'tantO' relates to amount ('sO much').
Explanation: 'Tonto' means 'silly' or 'foolish', while 'todo' means 'all' or 'everything'. They look similar but have different meanings and pronunciations.
Confused word:
Todo saldrá bien.
Everything will be fine.
Notes: 'Todo' is much more frequently used in everyday conversation than 'tonto'.
Mnemonic: 'Todo' has a 'd' like in 'day' because it covers the whole day (everything), while 'tonto' has an 'n' like in 'nonsense'.