How do you use "Dumb (intensifier)" in a sentence?

That test was dumb hard — I don't think anyone passed. The line at the DMV was dumb long, I waited three hours. This song is dumb catchy, I can't stop playing it.

Dumb (intensifier)

American Slang Term American ★★★☆☆ Moderate Casual

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Meaning: Very; extremely — used as an intensifier similar to 'mad' in NYC speech.

非常；极其——在纽约话中与mad类似，用作强调词。

Muy; extremadamente — se usa como intensificador similar a 'mad' en el habla de NYC.

めちゃくちゃ、超——NYC語で「mad」と同様に強調語として使われる。

매우, 엄청나게 — NYC 화법에서 'mad'와 유사한 강조어.

Like 'mad,' NYC speakers use 'dumb' as an intensifier meaning 'very' or 'ridiculously.' 'Dumb hard,' 'dumb good,' 'dumb expensive' — it has nothing to do with intelligence. It's interchangeable with 'mad' but slightly more emphatic, suggesting something is so extreme it's almost stupid.

跟mad一样，纽约人用dumb作为强调词，表示'非常'或'离谱地'。Dumb hard、dumb good、dumb expensive——跟智力没有任何关系。它和mad可以互换使用，但语气稍强一些，暗示某事极端到近乎荒唐。

Al igual que 'mad', los neoyorquinos usan 'dumb' como intensificador con el significado de 'muy' o 'absurdamente'. 'Dumb hard', 'dumb good', 'dumb expensive': no tiene nada que ver con la inteligencia. Es intercambiable con 'mad', pero ligeramente más enfático, sugiriendo que algo es tan extremo que resulta casi absurdo.

「mad」と同じく、NYCの話者は「dumb」を「めちゃくちゃ」「ありえないくらい」という強調語として使う。「Dumb hard」「dumb good」「dumb expensive」——知能とは一切関係ない。「mad」と入れ替え可能だが、やや強調度が高く、あまりにも極端で馬鹿らしいほどだというニュアンスがある。

'mad'처럼 NYC 화자들은 'dumb'을 'very'나 'ridiculously'를 뜻하는 강조어로 사용한다. 'Dumb hard', 'dumb good', 'dumb expensive' — 지능과는 전혀 관련이 없다. 'mad'와 교체해서 쓸 수 있지만 약간 더 강조가 강해서, 무언가 거의 바보같을 정도로 극단적이라는 뉘앙스를 준다.

Examples

That test was dumb hard — I don't think anyone passed.
那次考试超级难——我觉得没人能过。
Ese examen era supercomplicado — no creo que haya aprobado nadie.
あのテストはdumb難しかった——誰も受かってないと思う。
그 시험 겁나 어려웠어 — 아무도 통과 못한 것 같아.
The line at the DMV was dumb long, I waited three hours.
DMV的队排得超级长，我等了三个小时。
La cola del DMV era absurdamente larga, esperé tres horas.
DMVの列がdumb長くて、3時間も待ったよ。
DMV 줄이 겁나 길어서 세 시간이나 기다렸어.
This song is dumb catchy, I can't stop playing it.
这首歌超洗脑，我停不下来一直放。
Esta canción es superpegadiza, no puedo dejar de ponerla.
この曲dumbキャッチーで、聴くのやめられない。
이 노래 겁나 중독돼, 듣는 거 멈출 수가 없어.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: casual conversation, texting

Tone: emphatic, casual

✓ Do Say

That movie was dumb good.
That movie was dumb good.（那部电影超级好看。）
Esa peli estuvo buenísima.
あの映画はdumb良かった。
그 영화 겁나 재밌었어.
It's dumb cold out there.
It's dumb cold out there.（外面超级冷。）
Hace un frío brutal ahí fuera.
外はdumb寒いよ。
밖에 겁나 추워.

✗ Don't Say

Avoid in formal contexts — 'The presentation was dumb impressive' would confuse people outside NYC
在正式场合避免使用——'The presentation was dumb impressive'会让纽约以外的人感到困惑
Evítalo en contextos formales — 'The presentation was dumb impressive' confundiría a gente que no sea de NYC.
フォーマルな場では避けること——「The presentation was dumb impressive」はNYC外の人には混乱を招く
공식적인 자리에서는 피할 것 — 'The presentation was dumb impressive'는 NYC 외 사람들에게 혼란을 줄 수 있다

Origin & History

Part of New York City slang since at least the 1990s. The logic is similar to 'ridiculously' — something is so extreme it's almost absurd or 'dumb.' Common across NYC's boroughs, particularly in youth speech.

Cultural Context

Era: 1990s

Generation: Millennials

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: New York City