inútil

useless

good-for-nothing

Dictionary

Examples

inútil(

)

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!

inútil

An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g. the big dog).

adjective

1. (objeto)

a. useless

2. (intento, esfuerzo)

a. unsuccessful, vain

sus intentos resultaron inútileshis attempts were unsuccessful o in vain

es inútil, ya es demasiado tardethere's no point, it's too late

es inútil que lo esperes, se ha ido para siemprethere's no point in waiting for him, he's gone for good

3. (inválido)

a. disabled

4. (no apto)

a. unfit

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 inútilhe's useless o hopeless

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

Examples