Part of Speech

Noun

Phonetic Transcription

/desaˈtino/

Translation Options into English

1. Folly
2. Mistake
3. Nonsense

Meaning of the Word

"Desatino" refers to an action or statement that is foolish, ridiculous, or ill-considered. In Spanish, it is often used to denote a lack of sense or reason in someone's behavior or decisions. It is a fairly common term in both oral and written contexts, though it may appear more in written forms such as literature, critiques, or formal arguments than in everyday spoken conversation.

Frequency of Use

It is a moderate frequency term that might not be used in every day informal conversation but more in literary, academic, or formal discussions.

Example Sentences

1. Su desatino al tomar esa decisión le costó el trabajo.

2. His folly in making that decision cost him his job.

3. No puedo creer el desatino que cometió al hablar en esa reunión.

4. I can't believe the mistake he made by speaking at that meeting.

5. A veces, es mejor callar que cometer un desatino.

6. Sometimes, it's better to remain silent than to make nonsense.

Idiomatic Expressions

"Desatino" is not a common element in well-known idiomatic expressions but it can still be used in various contexts to shore up a point or highlight foolishness.

Example Idiomatic Expressions

1. "Decir desatinos" implica que alguien habla sin pensar.

2. "To say foolish things" implies that someone speaks without thinking.

3. "No cometas otro desatino" es un consejo que debería ser escuchado.

4. "Don’t make another mistake" is advice that should be heeded.

5. "El desatino de sus palabras fue evidente para todos."

6. "The folly of his words was evident to everyone."

7. "Justificar su desatino fue una tarea difícil."

8. "Justifying his folly was a difficult task."

9. "El desatino de la decisión final fue difícil de asimilar."

10. "The mistake of the final decision was hard to digest."

11. "En lugar de desatinos, debimos haber analizado mejor la situación."

12. "Instead of nonsense, we should have analyzed the situation better."

Etymology

The word "desatino" is derived from the Spanish prefix "de-" indicating negation, combined with "atino," which comes from the verb “atinar,” meaning "to hit upon" or "to find out." In essence, "desatino" reflects a lack of hitting the mark or correctness.

Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms: - Tontería (nonsense) - Locura (madness) - Error (error)

Antonyms: - Acierto (correctness) - Sensatez (sagacity) - Juicio (judgment)