mal
/ˈmal/
The English phrase 'badly' is translated into Spanish as mal. Wiktionary also lists malamente.
Meaning: in a bad manner (adv)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| mal | /ˈmal/ |
| malamente | /ˌmalaˈmente/ |
The word mal is used to describe doing something in a bad manner. It can also function as an adjective meaning 'ill' or 'unwell'.
Which one should you use?
While both words mean 'badly', mal is the standard and most common choice for most contexts. In contrast, malamente is much less frequent and is typically reserved for literary or highly formal writing.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmal/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use malamente because it resembles the English '-ly' suffix, but mal is the much more natural and common choice for 'badly'.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, saying estoy mal can be a shorthand way of saying one is in a precarious financial situation rather than physically ill.
- While English speakers use '-ly' to form adverbs, the Spanish suffix '-mente' is actually a combination of the adjective and the Latin word for 'mind' or 'spirit', 'mens'.
- The word mal is closely related to the English word 'malice', as both stem from the same Latin root for 'bad'.
Examples in context
- Él se portó mal.He behaved badly.This sentence shows how to use mal to describe behavior.Tatoeba #1287548 by marcelostockle, translation #296355 by CK
- Todo va muy mal.Everything is going very badly.This sentence uses mal to describe how a situation is progressing.Tatoeba #2265912 by hayastan, translation #2265911 by _undertoad
- Todo me sale mal.Everything goes badly for me.This sentence uses mal to describe a result or outcome.Tatoeba #7900978 by arh, translation #12974474 by carlosalberto
- La película estaba mal dirigida.The movie was badly directed.
- La comida estaba fatal.The food was terrible/bad.
- 37 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are talking about a recent cooking attempt.
- Lucía¿Cómo te fue con la cena?How did it go with the dinner?
- MateoLo hice mal y se quemó.I did it badly and it burned.
- LucíaNo te preocupes, Mateo.Don't worry, Mateo.
- MateoEs que cociné muy mal.It's just that I cooked very badly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “badly” translations and entries mal, malamente, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mal, malamente, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
