An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g. the big dog).
adjective 1. (of no use)
a. useless Mira, un vaso con cuatro mangos. - ¡Qué invento más inútil! Look, a cup with four handles. - What a useless invention!
2. (inept)
a. useless No es verdad que los jóvenes de hoy en día sean inútiles. It is not true that the young people of today are useless.
b. hopeless Me atendió una enfermera inútil que no sabía sacar sangre. I was assisted by a hopeless nurse who couldn't draw blood.
3. (impaired)
a. disabled La muchacha quedó inútil tras el accidente de carro. The girl was disabled after the car accident.
4. (military)
a. unfit Los problemas de salud del joven lo hacían inútil para entrar en el ejército. The young man's health problems made him unfit to join the army.
5. (futile)
a. unsuccessful Finalmente, después de varios intentos inútiles, el chofer logró estacionarse. Finally, after several unsuccessful attempts, the driver managed to park.
b. in vain Todos los esfuerzos del hombre por ayudar a su hermana fueron inútiles. All the man's efforts to help his sister were in vain.
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of person it refers to (e.g. el doctor, la doctora).
masculine or feminine noun 6. (worthless person)
a. good-for-nothing "¿Me estás oyendo, inútil?" dijo Paquita. "Do you hear me, you good-for-nothing?" said Paquita.
b. waste of space
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g. skinny, grandma).
(colloquial) ¡No eres un inútil! You aren't a waste of space!
c. useless (adjective) ¡Ese carpintero es un inútil! That carpenter is useless!
Copyright © Curiosity Media Inc. inútil
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g. the big dog).
adjective 2. (intento, esfuerzo)
a. unsuccessful, vain sus intentos resultaron inútiles his attempts were unsuccessful o in vain
es inútil, ya es demasiado tarde there's no point, it's too late
es inútil que lo esperes, se ha ido para siempre there's no point in waiting for him, he's gone for good
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling or idea (e.g. man, dog, house).
Noun 5. (general)
a. hopeless case, useless person es un inútil he's useless o hopeless
Copyright © 2006 Harrap Publishers Limited
inútil
adjective
1 (vano) [+intento, esfuerzo] unsuccessful; fruitless lo intenté todo, pero fue inútil I tried everything, but it was no use o useless; es inútil que usted proteste it's no good o use you protesting; there's no point in protesting; es inútil seguir intentándolo there's no point in keeping on trying
2 (inepto) useless (familiar) ; hopeless (familiar) 3 (inválido) disabled ha quedado inútil a causa de la artritis she is completely disabled by arthritis
4 (inservible) useless tira todos los trastos inútiles throw away all that useless junk
5 (Mil) unfit lo han declarado inútil para el servicio militar he has been declared unfit for military service
¡tu hermana es una inútil! your sister is useless o hopeless! (familiar)
Collins Complete Spanish Electronic Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
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