How to Say “Poor Judgement” in Spanish

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mal juicio
/mal xwiθjo/from spelling rules
In Spanish, poor judgement is translated as mal juicio.
The term refers to the quality of making bad decisions or lacking the ability to evaluate a situation correctly. You can also use falta de juicio to describe a lack of judgement or a lack of discretion. If you wish to describe a specific mistake resulting from this quality in professional or formal contexts, use un error de juicio, which means an error of judgement.

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase mal juicio is composed of the adjective mal (bad) and the noun juicio (judgment).

Which one should you use?

While mal juicio is the standard way to express the concept, other terms offer different nuances. Juicio deficiente and falta de criterio are used to convey the notion of poor judgement through the lens of lacking criteria or discernment. Pobre discernimiento emphasizes the inability to make sound judgements. For a specific blunder or mistake, you might use patinazo or the informal metida de pata.

Is it said differently in some regions?

In Spain, the expression error de cálculo is commonly used to describe a miscalculation or poor judgement.

How does it change in a sentence?

When you are referring to a specific instance of poor judgement, place the indefinite article un before the phrase to say un mal juicio.

How do you pronounce it?

/mal xwiθjo/

Did you know?

  • In Spanish, juicio refers to the ability to make sound decisions but is also the word used for a legal trial in court.
  • If you make a mistake due to poor judgement, you might say you made a patinazo, which comes from the verb 'patinar' meaning 'to skate' or 'to slip'.
  • The informal term metida de pata describes a specific act of poor judgement and literally means 'putting one's leg into it'.

Examples in context

  • Su juicio deficiente lo llevó a tomar una decisión equivocada.
    His poor judgement led him to make a wrong decision.
  • Su falta de criterio en ese asunto fue evidente.
    His lack of judgement in that matter was evident.
  • La pobreza de su discernimiento es preocupante.
    The poverty of his judgement is worrisome.
  • El patinazo de Pedro fue creer en sus mentiras.
    Pedro's blunder was believing in his lies.
  • Su error de cálculo le costó la oportunidad de ganar el torneo.
    His poor judgement/miscalculation cost him the opportunity to win the tournament.
  • Su mal juicio le costó el empleo.
    His poor judgement cost him his job.
  • Fue un error debido a su mal juicio.
    It was a mistake due to her poor judgement.

Example conversation

Elena and Daniel are discussing a coworker's mistake.

  1. Elena

    Daniel, ¿viste el error que cometió el jefe?
    Daniel, did you see the mistake the boss made?
  2. Daniel

    Sí, fue un ejemplo claro de mal juicio.
    Yes, it was a clear example of poor judgement.
  3. Elena

    Exacto, no pensó en las consecuencias.
    Exactly, he didn't think about the consequences.
  4. Daniel

    Espero que no vuelva a pasar.
    I hope it doesn't happen again.

Sources

  • IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
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Stephen Wyatt
Stephen WyattHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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