que alguien es malo
/ke alɡjen es malo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "that someone is mean" is translated into Spanish as que alguien es malo.
Depending on the context, you might use different expressions to describe specific types of behavior. For example, in formal settings, you can say Comportarse de forma desconsiderada to mean behaving inconsiderately or Actuar de manera hostil to mean acting in a hostile manner. In informal settings, Estar amargado/a is used to describe someone who is bitter and unpleasant, while Tener mala leche, which literally translates to "to have bad milk", describes someone who is consistently mean or ill-tempered. In Spain, the colloquialism Andar de mala uva is used to refer to someone in a bad mood who is behaving meanly.
Which one should you use?
The adjective malo must agree in gender with the person being described: use malo for a male and mala for a female.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The phrase Andar de mala uva is a colloquialism specifically used in Spain.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using this phrase in a clause that expresses an emotion, doubt or desire (for example, "I don't like that someone is mean"), you must use the subjunctive mood que alguien sea malo instead of the indicative que alguien es malo.
How do you pronounce it?
/ke alɡjen es malo/
Did you know?
- The word que is a linguistic survivor that inherited the role of the Latin word 'quod', even though it actually descends from the Latin word for 'what'.
- In Spain, saying andar de mala uva is a common way to describe meanness, but this specific idiom is not used in the same way across all Spanish-speaking countries.
Examples in context
- ¡Deja de ser un pesado y sé amable con los demás!Stop being annoying and be kind to others!
- No me gusta que alguien sea malo.I don't like that someone is mean.
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are talking about a new neighbor.
- SofíaHeard the news? People say que alguien es malo aquí.Heard the news? People say that someone is mean here.
- Alejandro¿Quién lo dijo, Sofía?Who said it, Sofía?
- SofíaLa vecina de al lado me lo contó.The neighbor next door told me.
- AlejandroNo creo que sea verdad, Alejandro.I don't think it's true, Alejandro.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alguien, es, malo, que, CC BY-SA 4.0.
