maldición
/mal-dee-SYON/
curse
As a noun, maldición refers to a curse or a magical spell intended to cause harm.
maldición(Noun)
curse
?a magical spell intended to cause harm
hex
?a magic spell; a curse
,jinx
?a run of bad luck
📝 In Action
La bruja lanzó una maldición sobre el pueblo.
B1The witch cast a curse on the village.
Parece que este equipo tiene una maldición; nunca ganan la final.
B2It seems this team has a curse; they never win the final.
💡 Grammar Points
Always a Feminine Word
Even though it doesn't end in '-a', 'maldición' is a feminine word. Always say 'la maldición' or 'una maldición'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Literal vs. Figurative
You can use 'maldición' for a real magic spell in a story, or to talk about a long run of bad luck, like 'the curse of a losing sports team'.
As an interjection, ¡Maldición! is used to express frustration or annoyance, similar to 'Damn!' or 'Darn it!'.
maldición(Interjection)
Damn!
?expressing anger or frustration
Blast!
?a milder expression of annoyance
,Darn it!
?a very mild expression of annoyance
📝 In Action
¡Maldición! Olvidé las llaves en casa.
A2Damn! I forgot the keys at home.
¡Maldición, se me escapó el autobús!
A2Darn it, I missed the bus!
❌ Common Pitfalls
Thinking It's a Strong Swear Word
Mistake: "Using '¡Maldición!' as if it were a very offensive curse word."
Correction: While it shows frustration, '¡Maldición!' is relatively mild, like 'Darn it!' or 'Blast!'. It's not considered vulgar or highly offensive.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use it Like 'Oh No!'
Think of '¡Maldición!' as a quick way to show you're annoyed about something small, like spilling coffee, missing a train, or forgetting something.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: maldición
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'maldición' to express frustration about a small problem?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is '¡Maldición!' a bad word? Can I say it in front of anyone?
It's not considered a strong swear word. It's more like saying 'darn it!' or 'blast!' in English. It's informal, so you might not use it in a formal presentation, but it's generally acceptable in everyday conversation.
What's the difference between 'maldición' and 'maldito'?
'Maldición' is the thing itself—the curse. For example, 'la maldición de la momia' (the mummy's curse). 'Maldito' is a word you use to describe something as 'damned' or 'cursed', like '¡Este maldito coche no arranca!' (This damned car won't start!).