mala
/MAH-lah/
bad
Mala describes something of poor or negative quality, like this rotten apple.
mala(Adjective)
bad
?Describing poor quality or something negative
lousy
?Informal, for something of very low quality
,poor
?As in 'poor quality', not 'lacking money'
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the Noun
'Mala' is the feminine form of the adjective 'malo'. It must be used to describe feminine nouns. For example, 'la casa' (the house) is feminine, so you say 'la casa es mala'.
Before or After?
Putting 'mala' before a noun can sometimes soften its meaning or make it more subjective. 'Una mala mujer' might mean an unfortunate woman, while 'una mujer mala' clearly means a bad/evil woman.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Gender Agreement
Mistake: "El coche es mala."
Correction: Say 'El coche es malo.' The word 'coche' is masculine, so you need to use the masculine form 'malo'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Anything Negative
You can use 'mala' to describe almost anything negative, from a bad movie or a bad day ('un mal día') to bad weather ('mal tiempo'). It's incredibly versatile.
When a woman or girl is mala (using 'estar'), it means she is sick or unwell.
mala(Adjective)
sick
?Feeling ill or unwell
ill
?More formal way of saying sick
,unwell
?General feeling of not being well
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Key Difference: 'Ser' vs. 'Estar'
This is super important! To say someone is sick, ALWAYS use the verb 'estar'. 'Ella está mala' means 'She is sick'. If you use 'ser' ('Ella es mala'), it means 'She is a bad/evil person'. This is a classic mix-up, so be careful!
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Ser' for Sickness
Mistake: "Mi madre es mala hoy."
Correction: Say 'Mi madre está mala hoy.' Using 'es' makes it sound like you're calling your mom an evil person, when you just mean she feels unwell today.
⭐ Usage Tips
Quick Health Update
If someone asks '¿Cómo estás?' (How are you?) and you're not feeling well, a simple and natural answer is 'Estoy un poco mala' (I'm a little sick).
Used with 'ser', mala describes a woman who is morally bad, mean, or wicked.
mala(Adjective)
bad
?Morally wrong or evil
mean
?Unkind or cruel
,wicked
?In stories, like a witch or villain
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Describing Character with 'Ser'
To describe someone's personality as being 'bad' or 'mean', you MUST use the verb 'ser'. It tells you about a more permanent characteristic of who they are. 'La reina es mala' means 'The queen is an evil person'.
✏️ 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
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.