inútil

Inútil is a word used in Spanish and Portuguese with the meaning "useless" or "of little use." It can describe objects, actions, or people depending on the context. In Spanish it also functions as a noun, referring pejoratively to a person regarded as inept or worthless, as in "un inútil" or "una inútil." In Portuguese, the adjective similarly denotes lack of usefulness and can also be used as a noun when referring to a person, though it is more often used as an attribute in neutral or negative statements.

Etymology traces inútil to Latin inutilis, formed from utilis meaning "useful," with the negative prefix in-. The accent on the ú marks the stress in both languages, i-nú-til.

Usage and nuance vary by context. As a descriptor of a tool, action, or result, inútil conveys inefficacy or lack of utility: "Esta ferramenta é inútil." When applied to people, it tends to be pejorative and may be taken as insult, though in some contexts it can serve as a blunt, evaluative term rather than a literal judgment of character. More neutral alternatives in Spanish include inservible (unusable) or sin utilidad (without usefulness); in Portuguese, one might use ineficaz or sem utilidade for more measured wording.

Grammar and forms differ slightly by language. In Spanish, inútil is singular and inútiles is the plural, and the singular form is used for masculine and feminine nouns (una persona inútil, un inútil). In Portuguese, the adjective also serves for both genders in the singular, with plural "inúteis." In English, the direct equivalents are "useless," "useless person" when used as a noun, and "unhelpful" in some contexts.

Translations: English—useless; Spanish/Portuguese—inútil (and inúteis/inútiles in plural). Related terms include inservible (Spanish) and inservível (Portuguese).