mala (spanish) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

Adjective (feminine form of "malo")

Phonetic Transcription

/mala/

Translation Options into English

• Bad
• Evil
• Wrong
• Awful
• Poor

Meaning and Usage

The word "mala" is the feminine form of "malo" (bad) and is used to describe something that is negative, undesirable, or of low quality. In the Spanish language, it can refer to a person's moral character (evil) or the quality of an object or situation (poor, bad). The word is commonly used in both oral and written contexts and is considered a basic adjective that is frequently encountered in everyday conversation.

Example Sentences

1. La comida estaba mala.

2. The food was bad.

3. Ella tiene una mala actitud.

4. She has a bad attitude.

5. Es una mala decisión.

6. It's a bad decision.

Idiomatic Expressions

While "mala" is not commonly used in complex idiomatic expressions, it appears in some phrases that convey negative connotations.

1. Pasar una mala racha.
2. To go through a rough patch.

3. Estar en una mala racha no significa que todo esté perdido.

   • Being in a rough patch doesn’t mean everything is lost.

4. ¡Qué mala suerte!

5. What bad luck!

6. ¡Tienes mala suerte hoy!

   • You have bad luck today!

7. Hacerle una mala jugada a alguien.

8. To play a dirty trick on someone.
9. No deberías hacerle una mala jugada a tus amigos.
   • You shouldn’t play dirty tricks on your friends.

Etymology

The word "mala" derives from the Latin "malus," which means "bad" or "evil." The feminine form has been used in various forms throughout the history of the Spanish language, maintaining similar meanings related to negative qualities.

Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms: - Maligna (malicious) - Inferior (inferior) - Desagradable (unpleasant)

Antonyms: - Buena (good) - Benigna (benign) - Agradable (pleasant)