no está tan mal
/no esta tan mal/from spelling rules
The English phrase "not too bad" is translated into Spanish as no está tan mal.
no está tan mal is used to say that something is acceptable or satisfactory. You can use this phrase to describe a situation, such as the weather or to describe a person's performance or their physical state, such as how they are feeling. While no está tan mal means "not too bad," it is worth noting that no está mal (without the word tan) is a more common way to say "not bad" or "pretty good."
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of no (not), está (is), tan (so/as) and mal (bad).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, you might hear the informal word chévere used to mean "not too bad" or "pretty good." In Spain, the casual phrase no está mal, oye can be used to say "not too bad."
How does it change in a sentence?
This phrase uses the verb estar (to be) rather than ser because it describes a state or condition of something rather than an inherent characteristic.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, a response of no está mal when asked how you are can be a social cue that you are actually struggling but do not wish to discuss it.
- In Spanish, using no está mal can often be a 'litotes', a figure of speech where an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite. In many contexts, saying it is 'not bad' is actually a way of saying it is very good.
- If you are describing a person's character rather than their temporary state, you must switch from no está tan mal to no es tan malo, as changing the verb from estar to ser changes the meaning from 'not feeling bad' to 'not being an evil person'.
Examples in context
- ¿Cómo va el trabajo? No está tan mal.How is work going? Not too bad.
- El examen no está tan mal.The exam is not too bad.
- El precio de la comida no está tan mal.The price of the food is not too bad.
- El clima hoy no está tan mal.The weather today is not too bad.
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are discussing a new restaurant they visited.
- Elena¿Qué te pareció el nuevo restaurante?What did you think of the new restaurant?
- JavierLa comida no está tan mal.The food is not too bad.
- ElenaA mí me gustó mucho.I liked it a lot.
- JavierSí, es un lugar agradable.Yes, it is a pleasant place.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
