maldito
“maldito” means “damn” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
damn
Also: darn, bloody
📝 In Action
¡Este maldito coche no arranca!
B1This damn car won't start!
Se me olvidaron las llaves otra vez, ¡qué maldita suerte!
B1I forgot the keys again, what darn/bad luck!
No encuentro el maldito control remoto por ninguna parte.
B2I can't find the damn remote control anywhere.
cursed
Also: damned
📝 In Action
La leyenda habla de un tesoro maldito que trae desgracia a quien lo encuentra.
B2The legend speaks of a cursed treasure that brings misfortune to whoever finds it.
En la historia, el fantasma era un alma maldita, condenada a vagar para siempre.
C1In the story, the ghost was a damned soul, condemned to wander forever.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: maldito
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'maldito' to mean 'damn' (expressing frustration)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'maledictus', which literally means 'spoken ill of'. It's a combination of 'male' (badly) and 'dictus' (spoken), the past participle of the verb 'dicere' (to speak).
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'maldito' a very rude word? Can I use it with anyone?
It's a mild swear word, similar to 'damn' or 'darn' in English. It's very common among friends and in informal situations. However, you should avoid using it in formal settings, like with a boss, a teacher, or elderly people you don't know well, as it could be seen as disrespectful.
What's the difference between 'maldito' and 'maldecir'?
'Maldito' is the descriptive word (adjective), like 'cursed' or 'damn'. 'Maldecir' is the action word (verb), meaning 'to curse' someone or something. For example, '¡Este es un teléfono maldito!' (This is a damn phone!), versus 'Voy a maldecir este teléfono.' (I'm going to curse this phone).
What does '¡Maldita sea!' mean?
'¡Maldita sea!' is a very common expression that means 'Damn it!' or 'For God's sake!'. It's used on its own to express frustration or anger about a situation.