Have you ever dropped your phone, tripped over your own feet, or spilt coffee on yourself? 😅 Then congratulations — you’ve just been clumsy!
But how do you say clumsy in Spanish?
Spanish has many funny, expressive ways to describe this — from torpe (the standard word) to the affectionate patoso, or even the hilarious manos de mantequilla 🧈.
In this post, you’ll learn the most common words and expressions to talk about clumsiness in Spanish, discover some natural slang, and test your knowledge with a short quiz at the end! 🎯
The word clumsy describes someone who is awkward or uncoordinated, who often drops things, bumps into objects, or makes mistakes when moving or handling objects. It can also describe something done carelessly.
In Spanish, there’s no single word for clumsy — there are many ways to say it, depending on whether you’re being serious, affectionate, or just teasing someone.
Let’s start with the most common and neutral options 👇
'Torpe' is the most direct translation of clumsy. You can use it for physical clumsiness or when someone struggles to understand something.
👉 Eres muy torpe, siempre te tropiezas con todo.
(You’re very clumsy, you always trip over everything.)
👉 Soy un poco torpe con la tecnología.
(I’m a bit clumsy with technology.)
🟢 Tip: Depending on tone, torpe can sound slightly critical. In informal situations, Spaniards often prefer something softer or funnier like patoso.
'Patoso' (for a man) or 'patosa' (for a woman) is a colloquial and affectionate way to describe someone who’s a bit clumsy but in an endearing way.
👉 Soy una patosa, siempre derramo el café.
(I’m such a clumsy person, I always spill coffee.)
👉 Mi hermano es muy patoso, se cae cada dos por tres.
(My brother is very clumsy, he’s always falling down.)
💡 Fun fact: Patoso comes from pato (duck) 🦆 — literally, someone who moves like a duck!
A funny and very Spanish expression for someone who constantly drops things!
👉 ¡Ten cuidado! Tienes manos de mantequilla.
(Be careful! You’ve got butter hands.)
👉 No le des el móvil a Pablo, que tiene manos de mantequilla.
(Don’t give Pablo the phone — he always drops things!)
It’s playful and perfect for teasing friends or kids.
Here are some natural and humorous expressions Spaniards use to talk about clumsy people 👇
🤭 Desastre – a disaster!
👉 Eres un desastre cocinando.
(You’re a disaster in the kitchen.)
🤪 Torpe como un pato – clumsy as a duck
👉 Soy torpe como un pato bailando salsa.
(I’m clumsy as a duck when I dance salsa.)
🐣 Pareces un pato mareado – you look like a dizzy duck
👉 Después de la clase de zumba, parezco un pato mareado.
(After Zumba class, I look like a dizzy duck.)
🤦♀️ Eres más torpe que un saco de piedras – you’re clumsier than a sack of rocks
👉 Cuando intento cocinar, soy más torpe que un saco de piedras.
(When I try to cook, I’m clumsier than a sack of rocks.)
😆 Vas dando tumbos – you’re stumbling all over the place
👉 Anoche llegaste a casa dando tumbos.
(You came home stumbling last night.)
❌ No das una – you can’t get anything right
👉 ¡Hoy no das una, todo te sale mal!
(You can’t do anything right today!)
Each expression adds humour and personality — exactly how Spaniards like to speak!
🎬 Want to hear these words in action?
👉 Miriam explains how to use torpe, patoso and manos de mantequilla in everyday situations with her usual humour — you’ll love it! 😂
Here are some sentences so you can see how these expressions work in real life 👇
😬 Juan es muy torpe, rompió tres vasos hoy.
Juan is very clumsy, he broke three glasses today.
🙈 Siempre me caigo, soy patosa desde pequeña.
I always fall down, I’ve been clumsy since I was little.
🧈 No cojas eso, tienes manos de mantequilla.
Don’t grab that, you’ve got butter hands.
🤭 Eres un desastre en la cocina.
You’re a disaster in the kitchen.
🐣 Después de bailar, parezco un pato mareado.
After dancing, I look like a dizzy duck.
🤪 Soy más torpe que un saco de piedras con los deportes.
I’m clumsier than a sack of rocks when it comes to sports.
😆 Cuando estoy cansado, voy dando tumbos por toda la casa.
When I’m tired, I stumble all around the house.
🧠 Torpe – clumsy, uncoordinated
😅 Patoso/a – clumsy in a cute, funny way
🧈 Manos de mantequilla – butter hands
🤭 Desastre – disaster, mess
🦆 Torpe como un pato – clumsy as a duck
🐣 Parecer un pato mareado – to look dizzy or move awkwardly
💪 Ser más torpe que un saco de piedras – to be extremely clumsy
😆 Ir dando tumbos – to stumble or move unsteadily
❌ No dar una – to fail at everything
In Spain, calling someone torpe or patoso isn’t usually negative — it’s affectionate and teasing. Spaniards love to laugh at little accidents and make light-hearted jokes.
If you spill your drink, someone might say ¡Qué torpe eres! with a smile. 😄
👉 So don’t worry — being patoso can even be adorable in Spanish culture!
When describing a person’s general personality, use ser:
👉 Soy muy torpe. (I’m very clumsy.)
When describing a temporary state, use estar:
👉 Hoy estoy torpe, no acierto con nada. (I’m clumsy today, nothing’s working out.)
Test your knowledge with this short multiple-choice quiz 👇
Are you torpe or patoso sometimes? 😜
Tell us your funniest clumsy story in the comments!