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"Silly" is an adjective which is often translated as "tonto", and "sly" is an adjective which is often translated as "astuto". Learn more about the difference between "silly" and "sly" below.
silly(
sih
-
li
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (foolish)
c. zonzo (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
How silly of me!¡Qué zonzo soy!
d. sonso (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
What a silly idea!¡Qué idea más sonsa!
3. (senseless)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
The haunted house scared them silly.La casa embrujada los dejó anonadados de miedo.
We laughed ourselves silly.Nos desternillamos de risa.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
a. el tonto (M), la tonta (F)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I was just joking, silly!¡Solo estaba bromeando, tonta!
b. el bobo (M), la boba (F)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Don't put it there, silly!¡No lo pongas ahí, bobo!
c. el zonzo (M), la zonza (F) (Latin America)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
Come here, silly! I didn't mean it.¡Ven acá, zonzo! No lo dije en serio.
d. el sonso (M), la sonsa (F) (Latin America)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
No, silly, it's that button you have to press.No, sonsa, es ese botón que hay que presionar.
sly(
slay
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (clever)
a. astuto
"You can't trick me! I'm too sly!" said the fox."¡A mí no se me puede engañar! ¡Soy demasiado astuto!", dijo el zorro.
I thought I could beat her at her own game, but I didn't count on her being so sly.Pensé que podía ganarle en su propio juego, pero no conté con que fuera tan astuta.
b. taimado
Don't play games with him. He's a sly opponent.No juegues con él. Es un oponente taimado.
c. pillo
I had no idea about the surprise party! You are so sly!¡No tenía ni idea sobre la fiesta sorpresa! ¡Qué pillo eres!
d. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
He was a sly guy, always full of lies.Era un zorro, siempre mintiendo.
Man, he's a sly one, taking advantage of other people's workVaya que es zorro, aprovechándose del trabajo de los demás.
a. pícaro
"Close your eyes. I've got something to show you," he said with a sly glance."Cierra los ojos. Tengo algo que enseñarte," dijo con una mirada pícara.
b. travieso
With a sly smile, she hid the pilfered fork in her handbag.Con una sonrisa traviesa, escondió el tenedor robado en su bolso.
c. malicioso (with ill-intent)
"I wouldn't want to have to hurt anyone", said the bank robber with a sly smile."No quisiera tener que hacerle daño a nadie", dijo el atracador con una sonrisa maliciosa.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
3. (deceit)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
It turns out my business partner was running his own operation on the sly.Resulta que mi socio llevaba otra operación a escondidas.
She found out he had been meeting a lover on the sly at a nearby motel.Se enteró de que iba encontrándose a hurtadillas con una amante en un motel cercano.
