What is the difference between "enfermo", "malo" in Spanish?

The English word 'sick' can be translated into Spanish in a few ways, depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. The choice often hinges on whether you mean generally unwell or something more severe.

How to Say "sick" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “sick” is “enfermo” — use 'enfermo' when you are feeling unwell or have a general condition of being sick, like having a cold or the flu..

enfermo🔊A1

Use 'enfermo' when you are feeling unwell or have a general condition of being sick, like having a cold or the flu.

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malo🔊A2

Use 'malo' with the verb 'estar' to describe a feeling of being unwell, often implying a more serious illness or a strong negative physical sensation.

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English → Spanish

enfermo

/en-FER-mo//enˈfeɾmo/

AdjectiveA1General

Use 'enfermo' when you are feeling unwell or have a general condition of being sick, like having a cold or the flu.

A storybook illustration of a child lying sick in bed under a colorful blanket, looking unwell and holding a tissue to their nose.

Examples

Me siento enfermo hoy y me quedaré en casa.

I feel sick today and will stay home.

Hoy no voy a la escuela porque estoy enfermo.

I'm not going to school today because I'm sick.

Mi gato ha estado enfermo toda la semana.

My cat has been ill all week.

Tiene una mente enferma y retorcida.

He has a sick and twisted mind.

Matches the Person/Thing it Describes

This word changes to match if you're talking about someone masculine, feminine, or a group. enfermo (masculine), enferma (feminine), enfermos (masculine plural), enfermas (feminine plural).

Use 'estar' for Being Sick

To say someone is sick right now, you almost always use the verb estar. For example, Él está enfermo. (He is sick). It describes a temporary state or condition.

Using 'ser' instead of 'estar'

Mistake: “Mi padre es enfermo.”

Correction: Mi padre está enfermo. Using 'ser' makes it sound like being sick is a permanent part of his identity, which is very rare. For the temporary state of being sick, always use 'estar'.

Forgetting to Match Gender

Mistake: “Mi hermana está enfermo.”

Correction: Mi hermana está enferma. Because 'hermana' is feminine, the word describing her must also end in '-a'.

See full entry for “enfermo” →

malo

/MAH-loh//'malo/

AdjectiveA2General

Use 'malo' with the verb 'estar' to describe a feeling of being unwell, often implying a more serious illness or a strong negative physical sensation.

A bright red apple that is visibly covered in green and white mold, indicating it is spoiled.

Examples

Estar enfermo de esta gripe es muy malo.

Being sick with this flu is very bad.

El villano de la historia es un hombre muy malo.

The villain of the story is a very evil man.

No comas ese pollo, está malo.

Don't eat that chicken, it's spoiled.

Me siento un poco malo hoy, creo que tengo fiebre.

I feel a little sick today, I think I have a fever.

Using 'ser' vs. 'estar'

'Ser malo' describes a permanent quality, like a person's character ('Él es malo' - He is an evil person). 'Estar malo' describes a temporary state, like spoiled food ('La leche está mala') or being sick ('Estoy malo').

Mixing up 'ser' and 'estar'

Mistake: “La sopa es mala.”

Correction: La sopa está mala. If you mean the soup has gone bad, use 'estar'. Saying 'es mala' suggests the recipe itself is fundamentally bad.

See full entry for “malo” →

Enfermo vs. Malo

Learners often confuse 'enfermo' and 'malo' when talking about feeling unwell. While 'enfermo' is the standard term for being sick, 'malo' (used with 'estar') can also mean sick, but often implies a more severe or unpleasant condition.

Related Translations

bad→bad at→diseased→evil→harmful→ill→lousy→mean→

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