torpe

clumsy

adjective TOHR-peh Rare

Origin: From Latin torpidus, numb, sluggish.

Also means

slow-witted

Usage Note

Torpe covers physical clumsiness (soy muy torpe con las manos = I'm very clumsy with my hands) and mental slowness or dullness. It is a two-ending adjective: torpe for both masculine and feminine, only the plural torpes adds an ending. The noun is torpeza and the adverb torpemente. It is not particularly offensive but can sting; use with care when addressing someone directly.

Examples

"Soy muy torpe y se me cayó el vaso."

Natural Translation

I'm very clumsy and I dropped the glass.

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