malo
/MAH-loh/
bad
Use malo to describe something of poor or low general quality, like a broken object.
📝 In Action
Este es un libro malo; no me gusta.
A1This is a bad book; I don't like it.
Tuve un mal día en el trabajo.
A2I had a bad day at work.
La película tiene un final muy malo.
A2The movie has a very bad ending.
💡 Grammar Points
Shortening 'malo' to 'mal'
When 'malo' comes right before a masculine word, it shortens to 'mal'. For example, you say 'un mal día' (a bad day), not 'un malo día'.
Matching the Noun
Like most adjectives, 'malo' changes to match the thing it describes: 'malo' (masculine singular), 'mala' (feminine singular), 'malos' (masculine plural), and 'malas' (feminine plural).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting to shorten to 'mal'
Mistake: "Tengo un malo presentimiento."
Correction: Tengo un mal presentimiento. (I have a bad feeling.) Remember to drop the '-o' before a single masculine thing.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Quality
This is your go-to word for saying something is low quality, poorly made, or just not good. It's the direct opposite of 'bueno'.
In this context, malo can describe food that has gone bad or spoiled (often used with 'estar').
malo(Adjective)
evil
?Morally bad, for a person
,spoiled
?For food that has gone bad
,sick
?Feeling unwell (used with 'estar')
mean
?Unkind behavior
,wicked
?Literary or dramatic
📝 In Action
El villano de la historia es un hombre muy malo.
A2The villain of the story is a very evil man.
No comas ese pollo, está malo.
A2Don't eat that chicken, it's spoiled.
Me siento un poco malo hoy, creo que tengo fiebre.
B1I feel a little sick today, I think I have a fever.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'ser' vs. 'estar'
'Ser malo' describes a permanent quality, like a person's character ('Él es malo' - He is an evil person). 'Estar malo' describes a temporary state, like spoiled food ('La leche está mala') or being sick ('Estoy malo').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up 'ser' and 'estar'
Mistake: "La sopa es mala."
Correction: La sopa está mala. If you mean the soup has gone bad, use 'estar'. Saying 'es mala' suggests the recipe itself is fundamentally bad.
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking About Sickness
To say you feel sick, it's very common to say 'Estoy malo/a' or 'Me siento malo/a'. It's a general way to say you're unwell.
The phrase ser malo para means to be unskilled or 'bad at' an activity.
malo(Adjective)
harmful
?Bad for your health or well-being
,bad at
?Lacking skill in something
unskilled
?Not having ability
📝 In Action
Fumar es malo para la salud.
B1Smoking is harmful to your health.
Soy muy malo para recordar nombres.
B1I'm very bad at remembering names.
Mi hermano es malo jugando al tenis.
B1My brother is bad at playing tennis.
💡 Grammar Points
Structure for 'Bad At'
To say you're bad at something, use the pattern 'ser malo para' + [the thing] or 'ser malo' + [an action ending in -ando/-iendo]. For example, 'Soy malo para el fútbol' or 'Soy malo jugando al fútbol'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Giving Advice
The phrase 'es malo para...' is perfect for giving advice or stating general facts about health and well-being.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: malo
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly says 'Today is a bad day'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the real difference between 'mal' and 'malo'?
'Malo' is the standard adjective. 'Mal' is just a shorter version of 'malo' that you must use when it's placed directly before a masculine, singular noun. Think of it like 'a' vs 'an' in English. For example, 'un mal coche' (a bad car), but 'el coche es malo' (the car is bad).
Can 'malo' mean 'sick'? I thought that was 'enfermo'.
Yes, it can! Using 'estar malo/a' is a very common and slightly more general way to say you are sick or unwell, especially in Spain. 'Estar enfermo/a' is also perfectly correct and maybe a little more specific. You can use both!
If I say 'Él es malo,' does that mean he's evil or just not a good person?
It can mean both, and you'd know from the context. It usually implies a strong negative judgment about his character. It could mean he's mean, unkind, or genuinely evil like a movie villain. It's a stronger statement than saying he's just 'not nice'.