mal aliento
/mal aljento/from spelling rulesmasculine
The English phrase "bad breath" is translated into Spanish as mal aliento. Wiktionary also lists mal hálito.
Meaning: unpleasant breath (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mal aliento | /mal aljento/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| mal hálito | /mal alito/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
The term is used to describe unpleasant breath. When expressing that someone has bad breath, you use the verb tener (to have), such as in the phrase tener mal aliento.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase mal aliento is composed of mal (bad) and aliento (breath).
Which one should you use?
While both mal aliento and mal hálito translate to bad breath, mal hálito is a more formal or medical term.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is a masculine noun phrase and is used with the masculine article el, as in el mal aliento.
Did you know?
- While aliento refers to breath in the context of bad breath, it is also the standard Spanish word for 'encouragement' or 'spirit'. To give someone aliento is to cheer them up or motivate them.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, stating tienes mal aliento is seen as overly blunt. It is more common to offer a mint or use indirect hints to avoid social awkwardness.
- The word mal is a close relative of the English prefix 'mal-' found in words like 'malfunction' and 'malady'. Both stem from the Latin word for 'bad'.
Examples in context
- Tom tiene mal aliento.Tom has bad breath.This sentence shows how to use mal aliento with the verb to express that someone has bad breath.Tatoeba #1214287 by marcelostockle, translation #1093697 by CK
- El enjuague bucal puede eliminar el mal aliento.Mouthwash can get rid of bad breath.This sentence demonstrates how mal aliento can be used when talking about mouthwash.Tatoeba #9167319 by rafaeldejesus8199, translation #9167322 by rafaeldejesus8199
- Tengo mal aliento.I have bad breath.This sentence is a first-person example of using mal aliento to say you have bad breath.Tatoeba #1939409 by marcelostockle, translation #240568 by CK
- Tu aliento no es agradable.Your breath is not pleasant.
- tengo mal alientoI have bad breath
- tu aliento parece aliento de dragón hoyYour breath seems like dragon's breath today
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are talking about oral hygiene.
- MateoElena, ¿crees que tengo mal aliento?Elena, do you think I have bad breath?
- ElenaNo, Mateo, no tienes mal aliento.No, Mateo, you don't have bad breath.
- MateoQué bueno, me preocupaba el mal aliento.That's good, I was worried about bad breath.
- ElenaSolo usa un caramelo de menta.Just use a mint candy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bad breath” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aliento, hálito, mal, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
