cosas malas
/kosas malas/from spelling rules
In Spanish, 'mean things' is expressed as cosas malas.
The phrase refers to unkind or cruel words and actions intended to hurt someone.
Which one should you use?
While cosas malas refers to moral badness or cruelty, the alternative cosas feas is often used colloquially to refer to 'mean things' in the sense of unkind or unpleasant remarks.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both the noun cosas and the adjective malas must be feminine and plural to agree with each other.
Did you know?
- In certain regions, saying someone is performing cosas malas can shift from describing unkind behavior to implying they are engaged in illegal or criminal activities.
- When 'mean things' specifically refer to the use of profanity or swear words, Spanish speakers will typically use the phrase malas palabras instead of cosas malas.
- If you want to describe a person who is intentionally mean, you can use malintencionado, a word that shares the same linguistic root as the English word 'malice'.
Examples in context
- Quizás podríamos considerar otras opcionesPerhaps we could consider other options
- Eres un/a bocazasYou're a big-mouth
- ¡Qué patán eres!What a jerk you are!
- Eres más tonto/a que un zapatoYou're dumber than a shoe
- ¡Claro, porque siempre tienes la razón!Of course, because you're always right!
- Eres un/a cenutrio/aYou're a dimwit
- ¡Vete a freír espárragos!Go fry asparagus! – Similar to "Get lost!"
- Eres un/a baboso/aYou're a fool
- ¡Anda ve a lavarte ese hocico!Go wash your filthy mouth! – Similar to "Watch your language!"
- No me digas cosas malas.Don't say mean things to me.
- No digas cosas malas.Don't say mean things.
- Ella siempre dice cosas malas sobre los demás.She always says mean things about others.
- No quiero escuchar más cosas malas.I don't want to hear any more mean things.
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are talking about a classmate.
- MateoMateo: ¿Viste lo que escribió Juan en el grupo?Did you see what Juan wrote in the group?
- LucíaLucía: Sí, escribió cosas malas sobre nosotros.Yes, he wrote mean things about us.
- MateoMateo: No puedo creer que sea tan cruel.I can't believe he is so cruel.
- LucíaLucía: Es mejor ignorarlo y no responder.It's better to ignore him and not respond.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
