noun
tonto
noun
1
A foolish or stupid person (informal, especially British slang, borrowed from Spanish).
"Stop acting like a tonto and read the instructions."
adj
1
Foolish, silly, or not thinking clearly.
"That was a pretty tonto move, forgetting the tickets at home."
How to Use Tonto
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA casual, mildly insulting way to call someone or something silly or dim-witted.
When to use it
Informal and can be seen as mocking; best kept to joking contexts between people who know each other well.
Word Forms
more tonto comparative, tontos plural, Tontos plural, most tonto superlative
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Stop acting like a _____ and read the instructions.
Etymology
Borrowed from Spanish tonto, meaning "stupid" or "foolish," and now used mainly as British slang rather than in American English.