malvada
/mal-VAH-dah/
wicked
When used as an adjective, malvada means wicked.
malvada(adjective)
wicked
?describing a female person or thing
,evil
?describing intentions or actions
mean
?less intense, informal description
,vicious
?describing nature
📝 In Action
La madrastra era muy malvada con Cenicienta.
A2The stepmother was very wicked toward Cinderella.
Tenía una sonrisa malvada cuando nos dio la noticia.
B1She had an evil smile when she gave us the news.
Esa fue una decisión malvada que afectó a mucha gente.
B2That was a wicked decision that affected many people.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Agreement (Feminine)
Since 'malvada' ends in '-a', it is used to describe feminine nouns (like 'mujer' or 'bruja'). If you were describing a male person or a masculine thing, you would use 'malvado'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the wrong gender
Mistake: "El bruja es malvada."
Correction: La bruja es malvada. (The gender of the person/thing must match the ending of the adjective.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Strong Description
'Malvada' is a strong word, often reserved for fictional villains, crimes, or dramatic situations, rather than just describing everyday annoyances.
As a noun, malvada refers to a female villain or villainess.
malvada(noun)
villainess
?a female villain
,wicked woman
?a female person who is evil
scoundrel
?a morally bad person (female)
📝 In Action
En la película, ella es la malvada que quiere destruir el mundo.
B2In the movie, she is the villainess who wants to destroy the world.
¡No seas una malvada y devuélvele su dinero!
C1Don't be a wicked woman/scoundrel and give him back his money!
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective to Noun
Like many adjectives in Spanish, 'malvada' can stand alone as a noun, meaning 'the wicked one' or 'the villainess,' when referring specifically to a woman.
⭐ Usage Tips
The Male Equivalent
The masculine noun is 'el malvado' (the villain/wicked man).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: malvada
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'malvada' correctly as a noun?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'malvada' a stronger word than 'mala'?
Yes. 'Mala' simply means 'bad' or 'poor quality.' 'Malvada' means 'wicked' or 'evil,' implying deliberate cruelty and malicious intent. It carries a much stronger, more dramatic negative meaning.