mal trabajo
/mal tɾabaxo/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "bad job" is translated as mal trabajo.
The phrase is used to describe work that is performed poorly or does not meet the required standard.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective mal (bad) and the noun trabajo (work/job).
Which one should you use?
While mal trabajo refers to the quality of the work itself, mal hecho is often used to describe a task that was poorly executed.
How do you pronounce it?
/mal tɾabaxo/
Did you know?
- The word trabajo has an unexpected ancestor in the Greek word tripássalon, which refers to a 'triple' or 'three-fold' punishment, suggesting the word's history is tied to the idea of heavy labor or suffering.
- To say someone is consistently performing a mal trabajo in a professional sense, Spanish speakers use the idiom no dar la talla, which literally means 'not giving the size'.
- While mal trabajo describes a poor result, Spanish speakers often use chapuza to specifically describe a 'botched job' or a makeshift, amateurish repair.
Examples in context
- Su pésimo trabajo ha arruinado todo el proyectoYour terrible work has ruined the entire project
- No puedo ignorar tu deficiente desempeño en este proyectoI cannot overlook your ineffective performance on this project
- Hiciste un trabajo de mierda en este dibujoYou did a crappy job on this drawing
- Fue un mal trabajo.It was a bad job.
- Hacer un mal trabajo te costará el empleo.Doing a bad job will cost you your job.
- No quiero aceptar un mal trabajo.I do not want to accept a bad job.
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are reviewing a report at the office.
- LucíaMira este informe, es un mal trabajo.Look at this report, it is a bad job.
- JavierLo siento, Lucía. Me apresuré mucho.I'm sorry, Lucía. I rushed too much.
- LucíaNecesitas corregir todo el mal trabajo.You need to correct all the bad work.
- JavierEstá bien, Javier lo arreglará ahora.Alright, Javier will fix it now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mal, trabajo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
