y malo
/i malo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "and mean" is translated into Spanish as y malo.
Used to describe someone who is unkind or cruel to others.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective 'malo' must change to the feminine form y mala if the person being described is female. The phrase becomes y malos when describing a group of men or a mixed-gender group. The phrase becomes y malas when describing a group consisting only of females.
How do you pronounce it?
/i malo/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, placing malo before a noun can change its meaning from 'mean' or 'evil' to 'bad quality' or 'poor'. For example, un mal hombre is a bad man, but un hombre malo is a mean man.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, calling someone malo can be used playfully or flirtatiously to mean 'naughty' rather than truly cruel.
- The word y is inherited from the Latin 'et'. This is why the English word 'et cetera' literally means 'and the rest'.
Examples in context
- Él es antipático y malo.He is unpleasant and mean.
- Él es muy rico y malo.He is very rich and mean.
- Ese hombre es aburrido y malo.That man is boring and mean.
- Tu jefe es estricto y malo.Your boss is strict and mean.
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are discussing a former coworker.
- Javier¿Cómo era tu antiguo compañero?What was your former coworker like?
- LucíaÉl era un poco arrogante y malo.He was a bit arrogant and mean.
- JavierQué lástima que fuera así.What a shame he was like that.
- LucíaSí, no era una buena persona.Yes, he was not a good person.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries malo, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
