te ves mal
/te bes mal/from spelling rules
The English phrase "you look bad" is translated into Spanish as te ves mal.
To add emphasis and convey that someone looks really bad or awful, you can use the expression te ves fatal.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, te ves mal translates to "you see yourself badly," where te ves functions as "you appear" or "you look."
Which one should you use?
While te ves mal is a standard way to say someone looks bad, te ves fatal is used specifically to emphasize that the person looks terrible or awful.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase changes depending on the subject. Use se ve mal when referring to a third person (he, she or it) or when using the formal "you" (Usted).
Did you know?
- The word fatal in te ves fatal does not necessarily mean 'deadly' or 'doomed' as it does in English, but is commonly used simply to mean 'terrible' in a fashion or health context.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, telling someone te ves mal can be interpreted as a comment on their health or emotional state rather than a critique of their clothing or style.
- The word mal shares a common ancestor with the English word 'malice', both descending from the same roots meaning 'bad' or 'wrong'.
Examples in context
- ¡Oye amigo, te ves mal! ¿Estás enfermo?Hey buddy, you look bad! Are you sick?
- ¿Qué te pasó? Te ves fatal hoy.What happened to you? You look terrible today.
- No sé qué hiciste, pero luces mal.I don't know what you did, but you look bad.
- Disculpe, pero usted se ve mal. ¿Necesita ayuda?Excuse me, but you look bad. Do you need any help?
- Permítame decirle que se ve fatal en esa situación.Allow me to tell you that you look terrible in that situation.
- Lamentablemente, luce mal en la fotografía de su documentación.Unfortunately, you look bad in the photo on your documentation.
- Te ves mal con ese color.You look bad in that color.
- No te ves mal, es solo el cansancio.You don't look bad, it's just tiredness.
Example conversation
Daniel notices Lucía looks pale and unwell at the office.
- DanielLucía, te ves mal hoy.Lucía, you look bad today.
- LucíaSí, me duele mucho la cabeza.Yes, my head hurts a lot.
- DanielDeberías irte a descansar.You should go rest.
- LucíaGracias, Daniel, lo haré.Thanks, Daniel, I will.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mal, te, ves, CC BY-SA 4.0.
