Adjective
/indole̞nte/
The word "indolente" in Spanish typically refers to an attitude of laziness, lack of effort, or a general unwillingness to engage in activity. It is often used to describe someone who is slow to act or has little enthusiasm. In the medical context, "indolente" can refer to conditions that are painless or not causing distress, making it a term that's found more frequently in written contexts, especially in clinical settings.
As for its frequency of use, "indolente" is more common in written language, particularly in literature and formal discourse, as well as in medical terminology.
El estudiante indolente no completó sus tareas a tiempo.
The indolent student did not complete his assignments on time.
La enfermedad se presentaba de forma indolente, sin muchos síntomas.
The disease presented itself in an indolent manner, with few symptoms.
No puedo permitir que mi indolente actitud afecte mis metas.
I cannot allow my indolent attitude to affect my goals.
While "indolente" is not commonly found in many idiomatic expressions, it can sometimes be used contextually within phrases that convey laziness or a lack of urgency. Here are some illustrative examples:
No seas indolente y ayuda con los quehaceres.
Don't be indolent and help with the chores.
Se ha vuelto tan indolente que no se levanta de la cama.
He has become so indolent that he doesn’t get out of bed.
El indolente comportamiento de la persona estaba afectando al equipo.
The indolent behavior of the person was affecting the team.
Vivir de manera indolente solo traerá problemas a largo plazo.
Living in an indolent manner will only bring problems in the long run.
The term "indolente" is derived from the Latin word "indolens," which is composed of "in-" (not) and "dolens" (suffering/painful). Thus, originally it conveyed not feeling pain, which has evolved in meaning to imply laziness or sluggishness.