ella es mala
/eʝa es mala/from spelling rules
The English phrase "she is mean" is translated into Spanish as ella es mala.
The phrase ella es mala is used to describe someone who is unkind or cruel in her behavior toward others. It describes a person's character rather than a passing mood.
Which one should you use?
Using the verb es (from the verb *ser*) implies that being mean is an inherent characteristic or a part of her personality. In contrast, if you were to say ella está mala, the meaning changes significantly to indicate that she is sick or unwell.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, the adjective mala must be in its feminine form to agree with the feminine subject ella.
How do you pronounce it?
/eʝa es mala/
Did you know?
- In common slang, the phrase mala leche literally means 'bad milk' but is used to describe someone with a mean spirit or bad intentions.
- The word ella follows a rule where the 'll' is pronounced differently depending on whether you are in Mexico, Argentina, or Spain.
- The verb es is a direct descendant of the Latin 'est', making it a distant relative of the English word 'is'. They both share a common ancestral structure from Proto-Indo-European.
Examples in context
- Ella es antipática y nunca saluda a los vecinos.She is unfriendly and never greets the neighbors.
- No puedo creer lo cruel que ha sido ella conmigo.I can't believe how mean she has been to me.
- Amanda es realmente mala, siempre insulta a todos.Amanda is really mean, she always insults everyone.
- Ella es mala con sus hermanos.She is mean to her siblings.
- Ella es mala con los niños.She is mean to children.
- No quiero hablar con ella porque ella es mala.I don't want to talk to her because she is mean.
- Todos saben que ella es mala.Everyone knows that she is mean.
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are discussing a former coworker.
- Sofía¿Por qué no la invitaste a la fiesta?Why didn't you invite her to the party?
- AlejandroPorque ella es mala con todos.Because she is mean to everyone.
- SofíaEs cierto, ella siempre es muy grosera.It's true, she is always very rude.
- AlejandroExacto, por eso no la quiero cerca.Exactly, that's why I don't want her near me.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ella, es, mala, CC BY-SA 4.0.
