maltratar
“maltratar” means “to mistreat” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to mistreat
Also: to abuse
📝 In Action
Nunca debemos maltratar a los animales.
A2We must never mistreat animals.
Ella siente que su jefe la maltrata psicológicamente.
B1She feels that her boss is psychologically abusing her.
Es un delito maltratar a los prisioneros de guerra.
B2It is a crime to mistreat prisoners of war.
to damage
Also: to treat roughly
📝 In Action
Si maltratas los libros, se les caerán las hojas.
A2If you treat the books roughly, the pages will fall out.
El sol y el agua maltrataron la madera de la mesa.
B2The sun and water damaged the wood of the table.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: maltratar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence uses the word correctly for a person?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the prefix 'mal-' (badly) and the verb 'tratar' (to treat). It literally means 'to treat badly'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'maltratar' a regular verb?
Yes! It follows the standard pattern for all verbs ending in -ar.
Can I use 'maltratar' for an old car?
Yes, you can use it to describe how someone drove it roughly or didn't maintain it well.
Is it the same as 'tratar mal'?
They are very similar, but 'maltratar' sounds more serious and formal. 'Tratar mal' is often used for being rude in conversation.