Turkish · Insults
Aptal
ap-TAHL · /apˈtaɫ/
Stupid / fool
2/5 Bar-safe
coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances
Literally
"Stupid / fool"
Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.
How to use it
Twin of "salak," maybe a hair harsher because it labels the person rather than the act. "Aptal aptal konuşma" (don't talk nonsense), "beni aptal yerine koyma" (don't take me for a fool). Playful among friends, stinging from a stranger. Bar-safe.
Heard in the wild
Aptal mısın, orası yanlış yol!
Are you stupid? That's the wrong way!
Where it lands
Turkey-wide; universal
Quick answers
- What does "Aptal" mean?
- In Turkish, "Aptal" means "Stupid / fool". Literally it's "Stupid / fool". Twin of "salak," maybe a hair harsher because it labels the person rather than the act. "Aptal aptal konuşma" (don't talk nonsense), "beni aptal yerine koyma" (don't take me for a fool). Playful among friends, stinging from a stranger. Bar-safe.
- Is "Aptal" offensive?
- It's on the mild end — 2/5 (Bar-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances.
- How do you pronounce "Aptal"?
- Say it "ap-TAHL" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: apˈtaɫ.
Related in Turkish
The same idea, elsewhere
Via concepts like "You idiot".
- French Con Idiot / dumbass — the single most useful insult in French
- German Arsch Arse / ass — and the second great compound-engine of German
- Greek μαλάκας Asshole / idiot — OR — dude / mate. The single most important word in Greek.
- Italian Stronzo! Asshole! / Bastard!
- Japanese ばか Idiot / dummy / stupid
- Korean 바보 Dummy / silly — the soft, safe, often affectionate 'idiot.'
- Polish debil Moron / idiot — the standard hard 'you idiot.'
- Portuguese Otário Sucker / gullible fool / mug
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