débil

See also: debil, and dèbil

Asturian

Etymology

Ultimately from Latin dēbilis.

Adjective

débil (epicene, plural débiles)

1. weak (lacking in force or ability)

Related terms

• debilidá

Galician

Alternative forms

• deble

Etymology

From Latin dēbilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈdɛbil/ [ˈd̪ɛ.β̞iɫ]
• Rhymes: -ɛbil

Adjective

débil m or f (plural débiles)

1. weak (lacking in force or ability)

   Antonym: forte

Derived terms

• debilmente

Related terms

• debilidade
• debilitar

References

• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, editor (2006–2013), “débil”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, editors (2003–2018), “débil”, in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Rosario Álvarez Blanco, editor (2014–2024), “débil”, in Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega, →ISSN

Further reading

• “débil”, in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega (in Galician), A Coruña: Royal Galician Academy, 2012–2024

Portuguese

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈdɛ.biw/ [ˈdɛ.biʊ̯]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈdɛ.bil/ [ˈdɛ.βiɫ]

• Hyphenation: dé‧bil

Etymology 1

Learned borrowing from Latin dēbilis.

Adjective

débil m or f (plural débeis)

1. debilitated; weak (lacking in force or ability)

   Synonym: fraco

Derived terms

• débil mental
• debilidade
• debilismo
• debilitar
• debiloide

 

Etymology 2

Ellipsis of débil mental.

Adjective

débil m or f (plural débeis)

1. (obsolete, psychology) mentally retarded
   • 1928 July 5, “A educação dos debeis e retardados”, in Antônio Carlos Couto de Barros, editor, Diario Nacional, volume I, number 305, São Paulo, page 12, column 2:

     PORTO ALEGRE, 4 (A. B.) — Acaba de ser fundada nesta capital a Sociedade Pedagogica Pestalozzi, cujo fim é a educação das crianças debeis e retardadas.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

2. (informal, derogatory) dumbass

Noun

débil m or f by sense (plural débeis)

1. (obsolete, psychology) retard
2. (informal, derogatory) dumbass

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:idiota

   • 2008, Antonio de Macedo Soares, transl., Diário de um Banana (Diary of a Wimpy Kid; 1), Cotia: Vergana & Riba, translation of Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney, →ISBN, page 2:

     Como eu disse, um dia vou ser famoso, mas por enquanto estou preso no ensino fundamental com uma cambada de débeis.

     [original: Like I said, I'll be famous one day, but for now I'm stuck in middle school with a bunch of morons.]

Further reading

• “débil”, in iDicionário Aulete (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2024
• “débil”, in Dicio – Dicionário Online de Português (in Portuguese), Porto: 7Graus, 2009–2024
• “débil”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2024
• “débil”, in Dicionário infopédia da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Porto: Porto Editora, 2003–2024
• “débil”, in Michaelis Dicionário Brasileiro da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), São Paulo: Editora Melhoramentos, 2015–2024

Spanish

Etymology

Probably borrowed from Latin dēbilis (“lame”). Compare endeble.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈdebil/ [ˈd̪e.β̞il]

• Audio (Mexico):

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• Audio (Colombia):

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• Rhymes: -ebil
• Syllabification: dé‧bil

Adjective

débil m or f (masculine and feminine plural débiles)

1. weak

   Synonyms: endeble, escuálido, flojo, frágil, lánguido, tenue

   Antonym: fuerte

Derived terms

• debilísimo
• débilmente
• debilucho
• eslabón más débil
• interacción débil
• interacción nuclear débil
• punto débil
• sexo débil

 

Related terms

• debilidad
• debilitar
• endeble

 

Descendants

• Chavacano: debil

Further reading

• “débil”, in Diccionario de la lengua española (in Spanish), online version 23.7, Royal Spanish Academy, 2023 November 28