mala
“mala” means “bad” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
bad
Also: lousy, poor
📝 In Action
Esta es una mala película.
A1This is a bad movie.
La conexión a internet es muy mala aquí.
A2The internet connection is very bad here.
Fue una mala idea venir sin paraguas.
B1It was a bad idea to come without an umbrella.
sick
Also: ill, unwell
📝 In Action
No puedo ir a la fiesta, estoy mala.
A2I can't go to the party, I'm sick.
Mi hermana está mala con gripe.
A2My sister is sick with the flu.
Se puso mala después de comer el marisco.
B1She got sick after eating the seafood.
bad
Also: mean, wicked
📝 In Action
La madrastra de Cenicienta era muy mala.
A2Cinderella's stepmother was very bad/mean.
No seas mala con tu hermano.
B1Don't be mean to your brother.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: mala
Question 1 of 1
If your friend tells you, 'Mi jefa está mala hoy,' what does she mean?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word 'malus', which meant 'bad', 'evil', or 'unlucky'. It's a very old word that has kept its core meaning for thousands of years.
First recorded: Ancient Rome
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'mala' and 'mal'?
'Mala' is an adjective, a word that describes a feminine noun (like 'una idea mala' - a bad idea). 'Mal' is an adverb; it describes how an action is done (like 'ella canta mal' - she sings badly). 'Mala' changes to match the noun ('malos', 'malas'), but 'mal' always stays the same.
Why is it sometimes 'mal' instead of 'malo' before a masculine noun?
Good question! Before a masculine, singular noun, the word 'malo' shortens to 'mal'. So you say 'un mal día' (a bad day), not 'un malo día'. This only happens with masculine singular nouns.
Can I use 'mala' for food that has gone bad?
Yes, absolutely. If food is spoiled or has gone bad, you can say 'La leche está mala' (The milk is bad). It's another great example of using 'estar' for a temporary state.