tontear (spanish) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

Verb

Phonetic Transcription

/tonteˈaɾ/

Translation

• Flirting

Meaning

The word "tontear" in Spanish is used to describe the action of flirting or behaving like a fool in a playful manner. It is commonly used in both oral and written contexts, especially in informal conversations.

Examples

1. No deberías tontear con tu jefe.

2. You shouldn't flirt with your boss.

3. A ella le gusta tontear con todos sus amigos.

4. She enjoys flirting with all of her friends.

Idiomatic Expressions

• Andar tonteando: To be flirting

• Estaban andando tonteando durante toda la fiesta. (They were flirting throughout the whole party.)

• No tener pelos en la lengua: To speak one's mind/To be straightforward

• Ella no tiene pelos en la lengua y siempre dice lo que piensa. (She speaks her mind and always says what she thinks.)

• Tener la mosca detrás de la oreja: To be suspicious or wary

• Después de lo que me dijiste, tengo la mosca detrás de la oreja. (After what you told me, I am suspicious.)

Etymology

The word "tontear" comes from the noun "tonto," which means fool or silly. It is formed by adding the suffix "-ear," which turns the noun into a verb.

Synonyms

• Coquetear (to flirt)
• Flirtear (to flirt)

Antonyms

• Seriedad (seriousness)
• Respeto (respect)