Standard Lemma guide

ditzy

adj · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • UK: /ˈdɪtsi/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɪtsi

1

adj

Meaning 1

Silly or scatterbrained, usually of a young woman.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Since early 1800s commonly used by Pennsylvania Dutch (Penslfawnisch Deitsch); possibly a borrowing from dialectal German dutzig, also dützig, ditzig (“numb, dazed, dizzy, as after having been punched; dull, stupid”), from dialectal dutzen (“to butt, hit, punch”). Compare German verdutzt (“dumbfounded”) and regional Dötsche (“bump, dent, bruise”). Unlikely, an alteration of dizzy, of American origin.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: pitomý — silly or scatterbrained
  • Czech: potrhlý — silly or scatterbrained
  • Finnish: hölmö — silly or scatterbrained
  • Finnish: ajattelematon — silly or scatterbrained
  • French: sot — silly or scatterbrained
  • German: verwirrt — silly or scatterbrained
  • German: leicht daneben — silly or scatterbrained
  • Hungarian: kótyagos — silly or scatterbrained
  • Hungarian: szétszórt — silly or scatterbrained
  • Italian: scervellato — silly or scatterbrained
  • Italian: svampito — silly or scatterbrained
  • Polish: głupawy — silly or scatterbrained
  • Polish: idiotyczny — silly or scatterbrained
  • Portuguese: avoado — silly or scatterbrained
  • Romanian: cu mintea în altă parte — silly or scatterbrained
  • Romanian: buimac — silly or scatterbrained
  • Russian: легкомы́сленный (lexkomýslennyj) — silly or scatterbrained