maldita
“maldita” means “damn” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
damn
Also: darn, freaking
📝 In Action
¡Esta maldita máquina de café nunca funciona!
B1This damn coffee machine never works!
Se me olvidaron las malditas llaves dentro del coche.
B1I forgot the damn keys inside the car.
Tengo que leer otro maldito capítulo para la clase de mañana.
B2I have to read another freaking chapter for tomorrow's class.
cursed
Also: wicked, damned
📝 In Action
La leyenda cuenta la historia de una bruja maldita.
B2The legend tells the story of a cursed witch.
Creían que la casa estaba maldita y por eso nadie la compraba.
B2They believed the house was cursed, and that's why nobody would buy it.
Es una persona maldita, no tiene compasión por nadie.
C1She is a wicked person; she has no compassion for anyone.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: maldita
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence is the best way to say 'This damn pen doesn't write'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'maledictus', which literally means 'badly spoken' or 'spoken ill of'. It's a combination of 'male' (badly) and 'dictus' (the past participle of 'dicere', to speak).
First recorded: Around the 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'maldita' a bad swear word?
It's a mild swear word, like 'damn' or 'darn' in English. It's very common and informal, but you probably wouldn't say it in a business meeting or to your grandmother. The phrase '¡maldita sea!' ('damn it!') is a common expression of frustration.
What's the difference between 'maldita' and 'maldito'?
They mean the same thing, but they have to match the gender of the word they describe. 'Maldita' is for feminine words (like 'la casa', the house), and 'maldito' is for masculine words (like 'el coche', the car). So you'd say 'la maldita casa' but 'el maldito coche'.