malvado
/mal-VAH-do/
wicked
When used as an adjective, malvado means morally bad or wicked.
malvado(Adjective)
wicked
?morally bad or cruel
,evil
?extremely harmful or bad
malicious
?intending to cause harm
📝 In Action
El dictador era famoso por sus actos malvados contra su propio pueblo.
B2The dictator was famous for his wicked acts against his own people.
Ella puso una sonrisa malvada cuando ganó la partida.
B1She put on an evil smile when she won the game.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender and Number Match
Remember that 'malvado' is an adjective, so it must change its ending to match the thing it describes. Use 'malvada' for feminine singular (la bruja malvada) and 'malvados/malvadas' for plural.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Malo' and 'Malvado'
Mistake: "Using 'malo' when you mean truly evil."
Correction: 'Malo' usually means 'bad' or 'poor quality.' Use 'malvado' when you mean 'wicked' or 'evil' in a moral sense. 'Una manzana mala' (A bad apple) vs. 'Un hombre malvado' (A wicked man).
⭐ Usage Tips
Context of Use
This word is often used in literary or dramatic contexts, like describing fairy tale characters, fictional villains, or truly heinous crimes. It’s less common for describing everyday annoyances.
As a noun, malvado refers to a villain or the main evil character in a story.
malvado(Noun)
villain
?main evil character in a story
,evil person
?a wicked individual
scoundrel
?a morally bad person (less intense)
📝 In Action
El malvado fue desenmascarado justo antes de que pudiera ejecutar su plan.
B1The villain was unmasked just before he could execute his plan.
En las caricaturas, el malvado siempre tiene un bigote grande.
A2In cartoons, the villain always has a big mustache.
💡 Grammar Points
The Adjective as a Noun
When you put an article (el, la, los, las) directly before an adjective like 'malvado,' it changes the adjective into a noun, meaning 'the evil one' or 'the wicked person.' This is a very common structure in Spanish!
⭐ Usage Tips
Referring to People
If you are referring to a female villain, you must use 'la malvada' (the villainess). The masculine form 'el malvado' is used for male villains.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: malvado
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'malvado' as a noun?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'malo' and 'malvado'?
'Malo' is the general word for 'bad' (e.g., 'bad food,' 'bad weather'). 'Malvado' is much stronger and is reserved for moral evil, cruelty, or wickedness. Think of 'malvado' as truly evil, like a cartoon villain.
How do I make 'malvado' feminine and plural?
Since it ends in -o, you change it like a regular adjective: Feminine singular is 'malvada.' Plural masculine is 'malvados.' Plural feminine is 'malvadas.'