maldito seas
/maldito seas/from spelling rules
The English phrase "damn you" is expressed in Spanish as maldito seas.
This phrase is an expression used to wish bad luck or eternal punishment upon someone.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, maldito seas means "cursed be you", where maldito means cursed and seas is the subjunctive form of the verb ser (to be).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
maldito seas carries a dramatic, somewhat archaic or literary tone compared to modern slang curses.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are cursing a woman, the adjective must change to the feminine form maldita seas.
How do you pronounce it?
/maldito seas/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, while maldito seas is a direct curse, simply calling someone maldito can sometimes be used as an expression of frustrated admiration, similar to calling someone a 'rascal'.
- The word maldito is a cognate of the English word 'malediction' meaning a curse.
- Because maldito seas sounds like something from a classic play or a religious text, modern speakers often use it ironically or theatrically to avoid sounding truly aggressive.
Examples in context
- No quiero volver a verte, ¡que te den!I don't want to see you again, go to hell!
- ¡Maldito seas, traidor!Damn you, traitor!
- Maldito seas por lo que hiciste.Damn you for what you did.
- ¡Maldito seas por siempre!Damn you forever!
Example conversation
Two people are arguing after a serious betrayal.
- Javier¡Maldito seas por mentirme así!Damn you for lying to me like that!
- ElenaNo tengo nada que decir, Javier.I have nothing to say, Javier.
- JavierOjalá pagues por lo que hiciste.I hope you pay for what you did.
- ElenaYa es demasiado tarde para discutir, Javier.It is already too late to argue, Javier.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries maldito, CC BY-SA 4.0.
