subnormal

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *upó

Proto-Italic *supo

Latin sub

Latin sub-der.

English sub-

Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃-

Proto-Indo-European *-sḱéti

Proto-Indo-European *ǵn̥h₃sḱétider.

Proto-Hellenic *gignṓskō

Ancient Greek γιγνώσκω (gignṓskō)

Proto-Indo-European *-mṓ

Ancient Greek -μων (-mōn)

Ancient Greek γνώμων (gnṓmōn)bor.

Etruscanbor.?

Latin norma

Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-

Proto-Indo-European *-is

Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.?

Proto-Italic *-ālis

Latin -ālis

Latin nōrmālisder.

English normal

English subnormal

From sub- + normal.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Adjective

subnormal (comparative more subnormal, superlative most subnormal)

1. Less than normal.

   Antonym: supernormal

   Near-synonym: below average

   His intelligence was considered subnormal, but as a musician he was a genius.

2. (computing theory) denormal
   • 2007, Ward Cheney, David Kincaid, Numerical mathematics and computing, page 704:

     Subnormal numbers cannot be normalized because this would result in an exponent that does not fit into the exponent field.

3. (derogatory, offensive) idiot, stupid.

Derived terms

• subnormality
• subnormally

Translations

less than normal

• Finnish: alle normaalin oleva
• French: subnormal (fr)
• Irish: fonormálta
• Italian: subnormale (it)
• Manx: fo-reilt
• Spanish: subnormal (es)

computing theory: denormal — see denormal

Noun

subnormal (plural subnormals)

1. A person whose abilities are less than normal.

   the IQ scores of mental subnormals

2. (geometry) That part of the axis of a curved line which is intercepted between the ordinate and the normal.
3. (computing theory) Synonym of denormal.

Interlingua

Adjective

subnormal (not comparable)

1. subnormal, less or lower than normal

Romanian

Etymology

From sub- + normal.

Adjective

subnormal m or n (feminine singular subnormală, masculine plural subnormali, feminine/neuter plural subnormale)

1. subnormal

Declension

Declension of subnormal

		singular			plural
		masculine	neuter	feminine	masculine	neuter	feminine
nominative- accusative	indefinite	subnormal		subnormală	subnormali	subnormale
	definite	subnormalul		subnormala	subnormalii	subnormalele
genitive- dative	indefinite	subnormal		subnormale	subnormali	subnormale
	definite	subnormalului		subnormalei	subnormalilor	subnormalelor

Spanish

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *upó

Proto-Italic *supo

Latin sub

Latin sub-lbor.

Spanish sub-

Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃-

Proto-Indo-European *-sḱéti

Proto-Indo-European *ǵn̥h₃sḱétider.

Proto-Hellenic *gignṓskō

Ancient Greek γιγνώσκω (gignṓskō)

Proto-Indo-European *-mṓ

Ancient Greek -μων (-mōn)

Ancient Greek γνώμων (gnṓmōn)bor.

Etruscanbor.?

Latin norma

Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-

Proto-Indo-European *-is

Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.?

Proto-Italic *-ālis

Latin -ālis

Latin nōrmālis

Spanish normal

Spanish subnormal

From sub- + normal.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /subnoɾˈmal/ [suβ̞.noɾˈmal]
• Rhymes: -al
• Syllabification: sub‧nor‧mal

Noun

subnormal m or f by sense (plural subnormales)

1. moron, imbecile

   Synonyms: retrasado, imbécil

Adjective

subnormal m or f (masculine and feminine plural subnormales)

1. (of a person, offensive) subnormal, moronic, stupid

   Synonym: imbécil

Derived terms

• subnormalidad

Further reading

• “subnormal”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025