malos
“malos” means “bad” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
bad
Also: poor, awful
📝 In Action
Los huevos estaban malos y tuvimos que tirarlos.
A1The eggs were bad (spoiled) and we had to throw them away.
Tuvimos unos días muy malos de lluvia la semana pasada.
A2We had some very bad days of rain last week.
wicked
Also: naughty, malevolent
📝 In Action
Los chicos eran muy malos en la escuela, siempre metiéndose en problemas.
B1The boys were very naughty at school, always getting into trouble.
Sus actos fueron descritos como malos y egoístas.
B2His acts were described as wicked and selfish.
the bad guys
Also: the villains, the wicked ones
📝 In Action
En las películas de vaqueros, los buenos siempre ganan a los malos.
B1In cowboy movies, the good guys always beat the bad guys.
Los malos de la historia siempre tienen un plan complicado.
B2The villains of the story always have a complicated plan.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: malos
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'malos' to refer to people?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word 'malo' comes directly from the Latin word 'malus,' which meant 'bad, evil, ugly, or unsuccessful.' The Spanish word kept all these meanings, and 'malos' is simply the plural form.
First recorded: Before 10th century (as 'malus' in Vulgar Latin)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'malos' related to the word 'enfermos' (sick)?
Yes, 'estar malo/a' is a common, often informal way to say 'to be sick or ill' in Spain, especially when referring to children. So, 'Ellos están malos' means 'They are sick.' However, in Latin America, 'enfermos' is much more common for this meaning.
When do I use 'malos' versus 'mal'?
'Mal' is the shortened version of 'malo' used only before a singular masculine noun (like 'un mal momento' - a bad moment). 'Malos' is used for ALL plural masculine nouns ('unos malos momentos' - some bad moments). 'Mal' can also be an adverb meaning 'badly' ('canta mal').