What does mala in Spanish mean?
What is the meaning of the word mala in Spanish? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use mala in Spanish.
The word mala in Spanish means bad, wicked, bad, bad, adverse, harmful, bad, damaging, sick, ill, bad, naughty, bad guy, bad shape, bad neighborhood, make uneasy, have a bad feeling about, riff-raff, of ill repute, in bad faith, grudgingly, badly, rudely, dump, jinx, the bad guy, the villain of the piece, at a bad time, play a dirty trick on, lead a bad life, lead an evil life, get a bad impression, have a bad impression, bad light, poor light, bad friend, spiteful, recklessness, bad habit, rudeness, bad luck, rotten luck, bad name, bad reputation, bad faith, mean, lowlife, mad as hell, pissed off, bad mood, foul mood, bad idea, bad intentions, moodiness, ill humor, bad blood, rotten luck, spider plant, ill repute, bad luck, mean, nasty, late payer, bad word, ugly word, dirty trick, bad luck, backstabbing Judas, bad practice, poor practice, bad streak, bad temper, rage, bad luck, mean, bad mood, foul mood, bad vibes, ill-will, bad luck, misfortune, call girl, what a drag, what bad luck, look bad, have a bad name, have a bad reputation, get bad press, have a bad name, be a nasty piece of work, have a hoodoo, be clumsy, be bashful. To learn more, please see the details below.
Meaning of the word mala
bad, wickedadjetivo (maligno, perverso) (adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.") Jaime es un hombre malo. Jaime is a bad man. |
badadjetivo (no hábil, no apto) (adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.") Una persona mala para las matemáticas no puede estudiar ingeniería. Anyone who's bad at math can't study engineering. |
bad, adverseadjetivo (negativo, adverso) (adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.") Ha sido un año malo para la aviación. It's been a bad (or: adverse) year for aviation. |
harmful, bad, damagingadjetivo (que causa daño, nocivo) (adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.") Fumar es malo para la salud. Smoking is bad for your health. |
sick, illadjetivo (informal (enfermo, indispuesto) (adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.") Mi marido está malo y no ha ido a trabajar. My husband's sick (or: ill) and hasn't been into work. |
bad, naughtyadjetivo (informal (travieso) (adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.") Eres un perro muy malo. You are a very bad (or: naughty) dog. |
bad guynombre masculino, nombre femenino (antagonista) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) El héroe llegó y acabó con todos los malos. The hero arrived and wiped out all the bad guys. |
bad shape(poco ágil) (US) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) No he podido subir la cuesta en bicicleta; estoy en baja forma. I have not been able to get up the hill on my bicycle: I am in bad shape. |
bad neighborhood(zona paupérrima) (US) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
make uneasylocución verbal (coloquial (generar desconfianza) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") Tu confías en él, pero a mí me da mala espina; no me parece una persona clara. You trust him, but he makes me uneasy. He doesn't strike me as a clear person. |
have a bad feeling aboutlocución verbal (coloquial (sospechar de algo) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") No pienso invertir porque me da mala espina ese negocio. I don't think I'll invest in that because I have a bad feeling about that business. |
riff-rafflocución preposicional (de mal vivir) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Se junta con gente de baja calaña. He hangs out with low-lifes. |
of ill reputelocución adjetiva (mujer: prostituta) (women) (expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") Encontraron a Martín con una mujer de mala reputación. They found Martin with a women of ill repute. |
in bad faithlocución adverbial (con malicia) (adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.") Desde que te pidió el dinero actuó de mala fe. From when he asked you for the money, he acted in bad faith. |
grudginglylocución adverbial (con desgana, con desagrado) (adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.") La vendedora aceptó cambiarme el vestido por uno nuevo pero lo hizo de mala gana. The sales rep went to change the dress for a newer one but she did it grudgingly. |
badly, rudelylocución adverbial (con malos modos) (adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.") El jefe siempre nos habla de mala manera. The manager always speaks badly to us. |
dumplocución preposicional (asqueroso) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) No vayas a ese bar, es un lugar de mala muerte. Don't go to that bar; it's bit of a dump. |
jinxlocución verbal (gafar) (transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.") No digas que me resigne porque me echas la mala suerte. |
the bad guylocución nominal con flexión de género (antagonista del bueno) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Con esa escena, quedó claro que Alberto era el malo de la película. Clint Eastwood nunca ha sido el malo de la película. Clint Eastwood has never been the bad guy. |
the villain of the piecelocución nominal con flexión de género (figurado, informal (culpable de todo) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Julia siempre me hace sentir como el malo de la película. La que hace las cosas mal es mi hermana, pero la mala de la película termino siendo yo. Julia always makes me feel like the villain of the piece. |
at a bad timelocución adverbial (expresa disgusto) (preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.") En hora mala has llamado. Hablemos más tarde. |
play a dirty trick onlocución verbal (hacer una faena) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") El clima nos jugó una mala pasada y arruinó nuestros planes. The weather played a dirty trick on us and ruined our plans. |
lead a bad life, lead an evil lifelocución verbal (no llevar vida decente) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") Brenda lleva mala vida desde que se junta con esos pandilleros. Brenda's been leading a bad life since she started hanging out with those hoodlums. |
get a bad impression, have a bad impressionlocución verbal (tener una mala opinión) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") La conoció enojada y se llevó una mala impresión de ella. |
bad light, poor lightlocución nominal femenina (AR, UY (leyenda: espíritu) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) El granjero asegura haber visto a una luz mala durante la noche. |
bad friendlocución nominal con flexión de género (coloquial (que causa prejuicio) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) ¿Te tomas una cerveza y te vas? ¡Mal amigo! Ana se dejó engatusar por una mala amiga. You have one beer and then you leave already? You're a bad friend! Ana was tricked by a bad friend. |
spitefulnombre femenino (España (mala intención) (adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.") Qué mala baba tiene lo que has dicho. What you just said is very spiteful. |
recklessness(insensatez) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
bad habit(costumbre inadecuada) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Hurgarse la nariz es una mala costumbre. Nose-picking is a bad habit. |
rudenesslocución nominal femenina (mala educación) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Tiene unos desplantes de mala crianza que no lo crees. |
bad luck, rotten luck(mala suerte) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
bad name, bad reputation(mala reputación) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) El candidato presidencial tiene mala fama. The presidential candidate has a bad name (or: bad reputation). |
bad faithnombre femenino (mala intención) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Te hizo esos comentarios con mala fe, quería herirte. They made those comments to you in bad faith, they wanted to hurt you. |
meanlocución adjetiva (informal (persona: malvada) (adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.") Ese viejo mala gente insultó a mi hija. That mean old man insulted my daughter. |
lowlifelocución nominal femenina (gentuza) (colloquial) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Ese hombre es un mala hierba, no te juntes con él. That man is scum, don't get with him. |
mad as hell, pissed offlocución nominal femenina (vulgar (mal genio) (condition) (adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.") Jorge anda con mala hostia, mejor no lo molestes. ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Maria was a bad-tempered child, but she has grown to be more friendly. |
bad mood, foul moodlocución nominal femenina (ES: vulgar (mal humor) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Sus insultos me pusieron de muy mala hostia. ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Don't make fun of Juan, he has a bad temper. |
bad idea(desacierto) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Fue una mala idea dormir tan tarde. Sleeping so late was a bad idea. |
bad intentionslocución nominal femenina (ES (malicia, maldad) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Carla es muy inocente y no tiene mala idea. Carla is very innocent and she doesn't have a bad bone in her body. |
moodiness, ill humorlocución nominal femenina (coloquial (mal genio) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) La mala leche de mi marido hace que discutamos constantemente. My husband's moodiness makes us row constantly. |
bad bloodlocución nominal femenina (coloquial (mala intención) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Se nota la mala leche en todo lo que hace Sofía. Bad blood comes through in everything Sofia does. |
rotten lucklocución nominal femenina (coloquial (mala suerte) (colloquial) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) ¡Qué mala leche que no te dieron el trabajo! What rotten luck you didn't get the job! |
spider plant(planta herbácea) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
ill reputenombre femenino (mala reputación) (formal) (expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") No lleves ahí a tu novia, es un bar de mala nota. Don't bring your girlfriend there, it is a bar of ill repute. |
bad lucklocución nominal femenina (mala suerte) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Qué mala onda, ¡perdimos el tren! ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. This place has a bad vibe. |
mean, nasty(mala predisposición) (adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.") Juan tiene muy mala onda, nunca más le pido un favor. Juan is really mean, I'll never ask him any favors again. |
late payerlocución adjetiva (coloquial (que no paga a tiempo) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Si eres mala paga, te cortarán la luz. Nadie le presta dinero a Javier porque es muy mala paga. If you're a late payer they will cut your electricity. Nobody lends money to Javier because he's a late payer. |
bad word, ugly wordlocución nominal femenina (insulto) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) A los extranjeros les gusta aprender malas palabras en español. Foreigners like to learn bad words in Spanish. |
dirty tricklocución nominal femenina (faena) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) El clima nos jugó una mala pasada y tuvimos que suspender el picnic. The weather took an ill turn and we had to cancel the picnic. |
bad lucknombre femenino (mala suerte) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Qué mala pata que no puedas venir al concierto. What bad luck you can't come to the concert. |
backstabbing Judas(coloquial (persona malintencionada) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Solo una mala pécora es capaz de hacer algo así. Only a backstabbing Judas is capable of doing something like that. |
bad practice, poor practice(mala praxis) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
bad streaklocución nominal femenina (mala época) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Pedro viene de una mala racha en el trabajo. Pedro is coming off of a bad run at work. |
bad temper, ragelocución nominal femenina (rabia) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) María se hace mala sangre por todo, debería relajarse más. Maria has a bad temper with everything, she should relax more. |
bad lucklocución nominal femenina (fortuna adversa) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Qué mala suerte que perdieras el boleto ganador de la rifa. What bad luck that you lost the winning raffle ticket. |
meanlocución nominal femenina (ES: coloquial (mala intención) (adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.") Qué mala uva darle las malas noticias en su cumpleaños. Me pegó con el balón con mala uva. ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Don't get with Juan, he has bad intentions. |
bad mood, foul moodlocución nominal femenina (ES: coloquial (mal genio) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Mi hermano tiene una mala uva que no le puedes ni hablar. My brother's in a bad (or: foul) mood so you can't even talk to him. |
bad vibeslocución nominal femenina (coloquial (mal presentimiento) (plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.") Ese hombre me da mala vibra, mejor vamos. That man is giving me bad vibes, it's better that we go. |
ill-willnombre femenino (antipatía, aversión, tirria) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) El maestro me tiene mala voluntad; me regaña todo el tiempo. ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. The proposal for peace was unsuccessful due to the ill-will of one of the member states. |
bad lucknombre femenino (desgracia, desventura) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
misfortunenombre femenino (desventura, adversidad) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
call girlnombre femenino (prostituta) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Friné fue una mujer de mala vida célebre por su belleza. |
what a drag, what bad luckexpresión (vulgar (qué mala suerte) (expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") ¡Qué mala leche que no te dieron el trabajo! What a drag that they didn't give you the job! |
look badlocución verbal (tener mal aspecto) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") A Diana no le gusta el nuevo novio de su hija y dice que tiene mala cara. Diana doesn't like her daughter's new boyfriend and says he looks bad. |
have a bad name, have a bad reputationlocución verbal (tener mala reputación) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") Preferí matricular a Ana en una escuela privada porque la otra escuela tenía mala fama. I preferred to enroll Ana in a private school because the other school had a bad name. |
get bad presslocución verbal (coloquial (mala fama, reputación) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") La privatización tiene mala prensa en el país. |
have a bad namelocución verbal (ES (ser una mala influencia) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") |
be a nasty piece of worklocución verbal (ES, coloquial (ser odioso, antipático) (colloquial) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") |
have a hoodoolocución adverbial (ES, coloquial (ser desafortunado) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") |
be clumsy, be bashfullocución verbal (ES, coloquial (ser cargante, patoso) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") |
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