Meaning · noun
dimwit, dope
- a foolish, slow-witted, or silly person
In a sentence
Smettila di fare il tonto e ascoltami attentamente.
Stop playing dumb and listen to me carefully.
Quel tonto ha dimenticato di nuovo le chiavi in ufficio.
That dimwit forgot his keys at the office again.
Non sono un tonto: ho capito subito la situazione.
I'm not a fool: I understood the situation right away.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|
| tonto | masculine · singular |
| tonti | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- Informal: mildly derogatory, equivalent to 'dimwit' or 'dope'.
- Can also function as an adjective meaning 'foolish' or 'slow'.
Meaning · adjective
dumb, dim, slow
- slow to understand or act; foolish or dim-witted
- clueless or naive in a harmless way
In a sentence
Non fare il finto tonto: so bene che hai capito tutto.
Don't play dumb: I know full well that you understood everything.
Sembra un po' tonto, ma in realtà è una persona molto sveglia.
He seems a bit dim, but in reality he is a very sharp person.
Perché continui a trattarmi come se fossi tonto?
Why do you keep treating me as if I were dumb?
Word forms (4)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|
| tonto | masculine · singular |
| tonta | feminine · singular |
| tonti | masculine · plural |
| tonte | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Informal: softer and more playful than 'stupido' or 'idiota'.
- Very common in the fixed idiom 'fare il finto tonto' (to play dumb).
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