mal
/mal/adjectiveadverb★Intermediate
general
bad, wrong, or poorly done
Este trabajo está mal hecho.
This work is poorly done.
informal
ill, sick, or unwell
Me siento mal hoy.
I'm feeling unwell today.
formal
evil, wrong, or morally bad
El mal triunfa cuando el bien no hace nada.
Evil triumphs when good does nothing.
Collocations
mal de ojoevil eyemal humorbad mood
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
estar malphrase
to be unwell
hacer malphrase
to do wrong
💡Pro Tip
Context is key
The meaning of 'mal' can change significantly depending on the context.
📖Word Origin
From Old Spanish 'mal', from Latin 'malus'.
📝Usage Notes
Be careful with the different meanings and uses of 'mal'.
✎ Noted on May 2, 2026ES → EN