mal

bad; ill

adjective MAHL Common

Also means

harm; evil

Usage Note

Mal is the apocopated form of malo used before masculine singular nouns: un mal día ('a bad day'). As an adverb it means 'badly': habla mal el inglés ('he speaks English badly'). As a noun el mal means 'evil' or 'harm'. Do not confuse the adverb mal with the adjective malo/a — only mal can precede a masculine noun directly and only malo/a can follow one (un día malo).

Examples

"Hoy me siento mal."

Natural Translation

I feel ill today.

Literal Translation

Today myself feel bad

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

Spanish Numbers 1-100: Count, Spell & Pronounce

Spanish numbers 1 to 100 are a system, not a list: three patterns build every number. Master the spelling, the accent rule, and how to say prices fast.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

The Spanish Cheek Kiss: Greeting Etiquette by Country

Two kisses in Spain, one in most of Latin America. Master the Spanish cheek kiss greeting — which cheek first, the air-kiss mechanics, and when to shake hands.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Te Quiero vs Te Amo: Saying "I Love You" in Spanish

Te quiero vs te amo, explained: te quiero is the warm, safe everyday I love you; te amo is deeper and more romantic. A relationship-by-relationship map.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Mexican Spanish Slang Every Traveler Should Know

Mexican Spanish slang decoded for travelers: what güey, mande, órale, and ahorita really mean, who you can safely say them to, and how rude each one is.

June 9, 2026 6 min read