How to Say "lousy" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “lousy” is “malo” — use 'malo' when you want a very general and informal term for 'lousy' to describe something of poor quality or simply bad.
malo
MAH-loh'malo
Examples
Este es un libro malo; no me gusta.
This is a bad book; I don't like it.
Tuve un mal día en el trabajo.
I had a bad day at work.
La película tiene un final muy malo.
The movie has a very bad ending.
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).
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.
terribles
teh-REE-blehsteˈriβles
Examples
Las noticias que recibimos fueron terribles.
The news we received was awful.
Sus modales en la mesa son terribles.
His table manners are horrible.
Tuvimos unos días terribles de lluvia y frío.
We had some awful days of rain and cold.
Plural Form
This word is the plural form of 'terrible.' It is used when describing two or more things or people.
Gender Agreement
Since the singular form 'terrible' ends in '-e', the plural form 'terribles' is used for both masculine and feminine nouns (e.g., 'días terribles' and 'noticias terribles').
Missing Plural Ending
Mistake: “Los días terrible.”
Correction: Los días terribles. (Remember to add the '-s' to the adjective when the noun is plural.)
apestoso
ah-peh-STOH-sohapesˈtoso
Examples
Tuve un día apestoso en el trabajo.
I had a lousy day at work.
¡Qué suerte apestosa tenemos!
What rotten luck we have!
Ese es un trato apestoso y no lo acepto.
That is a crappy deal and I don't accept it.
Figurative Language
Just like in English when we say something 'stinks' to mean it's bad, Spanish uses 'apestoso' to describe things that are unpleasant even if they don't actually have a smell.
Overusing in Formal Settings
Mistake: “Using 'apestoso' in a business meeting to describe a report.”
Correction: Use 'deficiente' or 'malo' instead. 'Apestoso' is too informal for work.
pinche
PEEN-chehˈpintʃe
Examples
¡Pinche tráfico! Siempre llego tarde por su culpa.
Damn traffic! I'm always late because of it.
No puedo creer que este pinche teléfono se rompió otra vez.
I can't believe this crappy phone broke again.
Ese pinche mentiroso no me engaña.
That lousy liar isn't fooling me.
Adjective Placement
Unlike most Spanish adjectives that come after the noun, this slang word almost always comes before the noun you are complaining about.
Gender Consistency
This word is 'gender neutral'—it stays exactly the same whether you are talking about a man, a woman, or a masculine/feminine object.
Watch the Crowd
Mistake: “Using 'pinche' in a job interview or with your grandma.”
Correction: Use 'malo' or 'terrible' in formal settings. This word is very informal and can be seen as rude.
Choosing between 'malo' and stronger options
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