tan malo
/tan malo/from spelling rules
In Spanish, 'so mean' is expressed as tan malo.
The phrase is used to describe someone who is being very unkind or cruel.
Which one should you use?
Do not confuse tan malo with tan mal, which is an adverbial construction meaning 'so badly' (for example, describing how something went).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain Latin American countries, especially Argentina and Mexico, the informal phrase re mala onda is commonly used to describe someone who is very mean or unsympathetic.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase must agree in gender and number with the person or people being described. Use tan mala for a female, tan malos for a group of men or a mixed group and tan malas for a group of only women.
How do you pronounce it?
/tan malo/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, calling someone malo can be used ironically as a flirtatious tease rather than a genuine insult.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, describing someone as having 'bad vibes' is expressed through the phrase mala onda, which literally translates to 'bad wave'.
- The Latin root of malo is 'malus', which also gives us the English word 'malice' and the prefix 'mal-', used in terms like 'malfunction'.
Examples in context
- ¿Por qué eres tan malo conmigo?Why are you so mean to me?This sentence is useful for asking why someone is being so mean to you using tan malo.Tatoeba #9931860 by Shishir, translation #3822538 by CK
- ¿Por qué son todos tan malos conmigo?Why is everyone so mean to me?This sentence is useful for asking why a group of people is being so mean to you using tan malos.Tatoeba #5127722 by makamoe, translation #5126178 by Hybrid
- No puedo creer que Juan haya dicho eso, fue muy desagradable.I can't believe Juan said that, it was so mean.
- Esa profesora es sumamente mala con sus estudiantes.That teacher is so mean to her students.
- No seas tan grosero, ¿por qué tienes que ser tan malo?Don't be so rude, why do you have to be so mean?
- Ese hombre es tan malo con los niños.That man is so mean to the children.
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofia are talking about a strict teacher.
- MateoNuestro profesor es tan malo con nosotros.Our teacher is so mean to us.
- SofíaTienes razón, siempre grita mucho.You are right, he always yells a lot.
- MateoNo entiendo por qué es así.I don't understand why he is like that.
- SofíaTal vez solo tuvo un mal día.Maybe he just had a bad day.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries malo, tan, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
