Hopefully, it won’t happen often, but if you ever need to say someone is mean in Spanish, you’d generally use malo. However, Spanish has many different words for “mean,” and the one you choose depends on the context and the level of unkindness the person demonstrates.
This guide will give you a number of ways to say “mean” in Spanish and help you choose the right word for every scenario, from simply desagradable (unpleasant) to truly malvado (wicked), and even a playful ¡Qué malo eres! (You’re so mean!).
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Malo
You may already know that bueno means “good” and malo means “bad,” but have you ever used malo to say someone is being mean in Spanish? This common Spanish adjective follows the familiar pattern and changes to mala (feminine singular), malos (masculine plural), and malas (feminine plural) to agree with the person or people it describes.
Malo is often used with the irregular verb ser (to be) to express “to be mean” in Spanish. When used directly alongside a noun, it does not follow the typical rules of adjective placement in Spanish, and is generally placed before the noun it describes.
Here are some examples:
- No seas malo con tu hermano. = Don’t be mean to your brother.
- Ella es una mala persona. = She is a mean person.
Playful ways to use ‘malo’ in Spanish
The important Spanish word malo can also be used in a lighthearted, playful tone to tease close friends or family. For example:
- ¡Qué malo eres! ¿qué has hecho ahora? = You’re so mean! What have you done now?
Gacho
In Mexico, gacho is often used instead of malo in sentences like “don’t be mean” and “you are mean” in Spanish.
- No seas gacho; me prometiste que me ibas a llevar. = Don’t be mean; you promised you would give me a ride.
- Mi jefe es bien gacho. Nunca me deja salir temprano. = My boss is really mean. He never lets me leave early.
Other ways to describe someone as ‘mean’ in Spanish
There are many other words besides “mean” that you can use to describe someone’s negative character in Spanish. From “unpleasant” to “evil,” each synonym conveys a varying level of intensity.
Learning synonyms is a great way to expand your vocabulary and ensure you have options; because, you might find yourself being called the mean one when you describe someone as cruel when you really meant unfriendly. Check out a reliable bilingual thesaurus to find synonyms of any Spanish word.
Desagradable
If someone doesn’t have malicious intent, but is overall unpleasant or disagreeable, you should use desagradable instead of malo. For example:
- Es una persona desagradable, nunca sonríe. = He is an unpleasant person, he never smiles.
- No me gustan los nuevos vecinos; son desagradables y nunca saludan. = I don’t like the new neighbors; they are unpleasant and never say hello.
Antipático
Whether it’s aloof behaviour or a bad mood, antipático is often used to describe someone as unfriendly or unpleasant in Spanish.
- No seas tan antipático, habla con los demás. = Don’t be so unfriendly, talk to the others.
- El nuevo profesor es un poco antipático. = The new professor is a little unpleasant.
Cruel
You can take malo a step further with cruel, to describe someone as “cruel” in Spanish. As in English, the word cruel is used for someone who purposefully inflicts pain or suffering.
- Su abuelo era un hombre cruel. = Her grandfather was a cruel man.
- No seas tan cruel con tu hermana. = Don’t be so cruel to your sister.
Malvado
If someone’s intentions are truly malicious, you can use malvado, a common way to say “evil” in Spanish. Here are some examples in context:
- La reina malvada quería ser la más bella de todas. = The wicked queen wanted to be the most beautiful of all.
- Ella es la persona más malvada que he conocido. = She is the most evil person I have ever met.
No matter which option you choose from this guide on how to say someone is mean in Spanish, remember that using adjectives properly is essential. It’s important to distinguish “mean,” the adjective, from the verb “to mean,” which is used in sentences like “What do you mean?” in Spanish. Understanding the distinction between these parts of speech in Spanish is key to avoiding common mistakes and communicating effectively.
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