deja de ser malo
/dexa de seɾ malo/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'stop being mean' is translated into Spanish as deja de ser malo.
Which one should you use?
While malo can mean 'evil' or 'bad', antipático is often a more natural way to describe someone being 'mean' in the sense of being unfriendly or rude, such as in the phrase deja de ser antipático.
How does it change in a sentence?
The grammar changes based on the person you are addressing and their gender. The form deja is the informal imperative (tú). If you are speaking to a female, you must change the adjective to the feminine form mala, as in deja de ser mala. To tell a group of people to stop being mean, use the plural verb form dejen and the plural adjective malos, as in dejen de ser malos.
Did you know?
- The verb ser absorbed the Old Spanish word seer, which originally came from the Latin word for 'sit'.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, calling someone malo playfully can actually be a form of flirting or a sign of affection.
- While malo means 'mean' in this context, it is also the standard word for 'bad' when describing food that has spoiled.
Examples in context
- Deja de ser malo con ella.Stop being mean to her.
- ¡Deja de ser malo y juega conmigo!Stop being mean and play with me!
- Por favor, deja de ser malo con los niños.Please, stop being mean to the children.
Example conversation
Daniel is teasing Lucía about a mistake she made.
- DanielNo puedo creer que te equivocaras así.I can't believe you made a mistake like that.
- Lucía¡Deja de ser malo, Daniel!Stop being mean, Daniel!
- DanielSolo estoy bromeando un poco.I'm just joking a little.
- LucíaNo tiene gracia.It's not funny.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, deja, malo, ser, CC BY-SA 4.0.
