Adjective
/ato.lonˈðɾa.ðo/
The word "atolondrado" is used to describe someone who is scatterbrained, confused, or distracted. It conveys a sense of being unable to think clearly or being overwhelmed by thoughts or tasks. The term is often used in informal contexts and can refer both to a person's mental state and their tendency to forget things or make careless mistakes.
In terms of frequency, "atolondrado" is more commonly encountered in oral speech but can also appear in written contexts, especially in literature or conversational prose, where character emotions and mental states are explored.
Juan siempre está atolondrado cuando no dorme bien.
Juan is always scatterbrained when he doesn't sleep well.
No puedo concentrarme en mi trabajo, me siento atolondrado hoy.
I can't concentrate on my work; I feel dazed today.
La noticia lo dejó atolondrado por un momento.
The news left him dazed for a moment.
"Atolondrado" appears in several idiomatic expressions, often referring to mental confusion or a distracted state. Here are a few examples:
Estar atolondrado como una gallina sin cabeza.
To be as scatterbrained as a headless chicken.
Ella estaba atolondrada como una gallina sin cabeza tratando de encontrar su móvil.
She was as scatterbrained as a headless chicken trying to find her phone.
Vivir en un mundo atolondrado.
To live in a scatterbrained world.
A veces siento que vivimos en un mundo atolondrado donde todo va demasiado rápido.
Sometimes I feel like we live in a scatterbrained world where everything moves too fast.
No estar en mi sano juicio, estar atolondrado.
Not to be in my right mind, to be dazed.
Después de tanta información nueva, no estaba en mi sano juicio, estaba atolondrado.
After so much new information, I wasn't in my right mind; I was dazed.
The term "atolondrado" derives from the verb "atolondrar," which means "to confuse" or "to make dizzy." The prefix "a-" often relates to the formation of an action, while "tolondrar" itself is of uncertain origin, possibly influenced by local regional dialects. The development of this adjective reflects the state of being affected or altered by confusion or bewilderment.
Synonyms: - Desconcertado (confused) - Embobado (dazed, bewildered) - Distracted (distracted)
Antonyms: - Concentrado (focused) - Serio (serious) - Lúcido (lucid)