imbécil
What does “imbécil” mean in English?
It directly insults someone by calling them an idiot. The literal translation is 'fool.'
Literally “fool”
Used as a direct insult, it's similar to calling someone a 'dumbass' in English. It's a common term in Spanish-speaking regions and carries a light to moderate sting.
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Related Spanish words
idiota
2/5 · CoarseIt's a direct insult for someone considered a fool or stupid. While it translates to 'idiot', it doesn't carry the same weight as harsher terms.
boludo
3/5 · VulgarIt means idiot or fool, but can also be used as a friendly term among pals. The literal translation is 'big-balled.'
pelotudo
3/5 · VulgarIt's a derogatory term for someone considered a fool or an idiot. Literally, it translates to 'big-balled,' but that's not how it's used in conversation.
tonto del culo
3/5 · VulgarThis is a strong insult meaning 'stupid idiot.' It literally translates to 'stupid in the arse,' which adds a bit of flair to the insult.
About this data
Swear Atlas is a source-attested, AI-curated reference — not a native-speaker-certified dictionary. Meanings and the 1–5 Burn Rating are approximate editorial assessments that vary with context, region, tone and speaker. Inclusion of a word does not constitute endorsement of its use.
The literal gloss is a short editorial translation to show word-for-word sense, not an etymological claim.
“Sounds like” is an English-friendly approximation of how the word sounds, not an authoritative pronunciation. Where shown, the romanisation is a conventional Latin-script transliteration of the original spelling.
Term attested via LDNOOBW, Viddexa SafeText, FlacSy/BadWords, 4troDev/profanity.csv (CC-BY-4.0, MIT, MIT AND CC-BY-4.0). Editorial content © Swear Atlas.