Translation of Spanish word "mal" to English
mal
/ˈmal/
Meaning
VerbIn a bad manner.
How to use
The verb 'mal' is often used in informal contexts to describe something that is done in a bad manner. For example, 'Ella canta mal' means 'She sings badly.' Be careful not to confuse 'mal' with 'malo,' which is an adjective that means 'bad.' Another common mistake is using 'mal' as an adverb to describe a noun, as in 'Ella es mal' (Incorrect). Instead, use 'mala' or 'mal' as an adjective to describe a noun, as in 'Ella es una mala cantante' (She is a bad singer).
🇬🇧 English
badly
Example
Las cosas le van mal: obtuvo malos resultados en sus exámenes debido a un horario de estudio mal diseñado.
Things are going badly for him: he got poor results on his exams due to a poorly designed study schedule.
No pienses mal de mí, dame el beneficio de la duda.
Don't think badly of me, give me the benefit of the doubt.
Your personal vocabulary
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Common phrases
- cantar mal— to sing badly
- danzar mal— to dance badly
- jugar mal— to play badly
- comer mal— to eat badly
- estudiar mal— to study badly
More Adverbs & Numbers words
📖 Related grammar
Frequency rank: #343 in Spanish
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Spanish word "mal" mean?▼
The Spanish word "mal" means "badly" in English.
How do you pronounce the Spanish word "mal"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "mal" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "mal"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Las cosas le van mal: obtuvo malos resultados en sus exámenes debido a un horario de estudio mal diseñado." (which translates as "Things are going badly for him: he got poor results on his exams due to a poorly designed study schedule.").
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