malsano

unhealthy

adjective mahl-SAH-noh Rare

Also means

unwholesome

Usage Note

Malsano is a compound of mal (bad) + sano (healthy) and applies to physical environments (damp, polluted air), habits (poor diet, lack of sleep), or psychological states (obsessive thinking). It is slightly more formal and literary than the everyday poco saludable. The antonym is simply sano. It can be used with ser or estar depending on whether the unhealthiness is inherent or situational.

Examples

"Ese barrio tiene un ambiente malsano."

Natural Translation

That neighbourhood has an unhealthy atmosphere.

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