slow-witted

[/sloʊ ˈwɪtɪd/]
adjective
de raciocínio lento
1. lacking quickness of mind; not intelligent or quick to understand
He was considered slow-witted by his classmates because he struggled with basic math problems.
Ele era considerado de raciocínio lento por seus colegas porque tinha dificuldade com problemas básicos de matemática.
2. taking a long time to understand or react to something
The slow-witted response from the customer service team frustrated many clients.
A resposta lenta e pouco inteligente da equipe de atendimento ao cliente frustrou muitos clientes.
In both American and Brazilian contexts, this term is considered somewhat derogatory and is used to insult someone's intelligence. It's important to note that in modern usage, especially in educational and professional settings, this term is increasingly viewed as offensive and potentially discriminatory. Brazilian Portuguese speakers may prefer more neutral terms like 'tem dificuldade em aprender' (has difficulty learning) in formal contexts.
NYC Slang
a few sandwiches short of a picnic; not the sharpest tool in the shed
Synonyms / Sinônimos
dulldim-wittedstupidobtusedensethick
Antonyms / Antônimos
quick-wittedintelligentsharpcleverbrightkeen

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
de raciocínio lento; burro; pouco inteligente
Most common translation in standard Brazilian Portuguese
Rio de Janeiro
cabeça de vento; pouco ligado
More colloquial and regional slang usage
São Paulo
de raciocínio lento; meio lerdo
Standard usage with occasional colloquial variations
Portugal
pouco rápido de raciocínio; meio tolo
Portuguese European usage emphasizes slowness of reasoning

Related Words

witintelligenceacuitycomprehensioncognitive

Related Idioms & Phrases

a few cards short of a full deck
not the brightest bulb in the box
slow on the uptake
not playing with a full deck
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