torpe

clumsy

torpe(

tohr

peh

)

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

adjective

1. (graceless)

a. clumsy

Se me cayó el helado. Soy tan torpe.I dropped my ice cream. I'm so clumsy.

2. (not quick-witted)

a. slow

A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).

(colloquial)

Le cuestan las mates porque es un poco torpe.He has trouble with math because he's a bit slow.

b. dim

A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).

(colloquial)

Nunca sé calcular la cuenta de los restaurantes; así de torpe soy.I can never work out restaurant bills; that's how dim I am.

3. (tactless)

a. awkward

Se comportó de un modo muy torpe; en pleno velatorio se echó a reír.He behaved in the most awkward way; he started laughing in the middle of the wake.

torpe

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

adjective

1. (sin destreza, sin tacto)

a. clumsy

sus movimientos son torpesher movements are clumsy

2. (que rompe las cosas)

es muy torpe conduciendohe's a terrible driver

3. (sin inteligencia)

a. slow, dim-witted

torpe

adjective

1 (poco ágil) [+persona] clumsy; [+movimiento] ungainly

¡qué torpe eres, ya me has vuelto a pisar! you're so clumsy, you've trodden on my foot again!; un hombre de torpes andares a man with an ungainly walk

2 (necio) dim; slow

soy muy torpe para la informática I'm very dim o slow when it comes to computers; es bastante torpe y nunca entiende las lecciones he's a bit dim o slow, he never understands the lessons

3 (sin tacto) clumsy

¡qué torpe soy! me temo que la he ofendido how clumsy o stupid of me! I'm afraid I've offended her

Collins Complete Spanish Electronic Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

Examples