16 Phrases and Phrases for ‘Evil’ in Spanish
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If you wish to say “evil” in Spanish, you might have a number of choices. Essentially the most fundamental is malo. You might also hear locals utilizing maléfico or maligno when referring to one thing that’s unhealthy or evil.
Studying fundamental Spanish phrases like “evil” can add to your conversations about kids’s tales and legends, cultural beliefs, and information and present occasions.
How do you say ‘evil’ in Spanish?
You should utilize each nouns like el mal (evil) or adjectives like malo (evil), relying on the way you need to construction your sentence. This straightforward phrase has many potential translations relying on the context.
Malo/mala
Use malo/mala to say “evil” for those who’re describing an individual, place, factor, or concept. As a result of it’s a Spanish adjective, you need to use the proper kind, matching grammatical gender (masculine/female) and quantity (singular/plural) with the noun you’re describing.
- Para mí, Hitler fue un hombre malo. = In my view, Hitler was an evil man.
- Su personaje favorito en la serie fue la mujer mala. = Her favourite character within the present was the evil lady.
Should you create your sentence with the verb estar, the that means of malo/mala modifications to “unwell” or “feeling poorly,” so watch out to not misread somebody’s sick grandmother as “evil.” That is one in every of many cases the place ser vs. estar can change the that means of a sentence.
- Mi abuela está mala. = My grandmother is feeling sick.
- El perro está malo. = The canine is unwell.
El mal
El mal means ethical badness or malevolence. This definition can be related in discussions of la filosofía (philosophy) or la réligion (faith). You typically hear this noun contrasted with el bien (good/benevolence).
- El bien siempre gana al mal. = Good at all times conquers evil.
- Period una historia del bien contra el mal. = It was a narrative of fine versus evil.
El malo
This Spanish noun and its plural kind los malos generally discuss with “the unhealthy man/the unhealthy guys” in a narrative or movie. A standard synonym is el villano (the villain). A feminine villain can be la mala/la villana.
- ¡Qué sorpresa! En esta película el malo gana. = What a shock! On this film, the unhealthy man wins.
Malvado/malvada
This time period is frequent in tales, legends, and flicks when the character is taken into account evil or “depraved,” and is also translated as “evil-doer” or “sinful” in spiritual contexts. It may be an adjective, following guidelines about adjective placement in Spanish, or a noun.
- La reina malvada encarceló a la princesa. = The Depraved Queen imprisoned the princess.
- ¿Por qué los malvados prosperan en este mundo? = Why do evildoers prosper on this world?
There are lots of synonyms, associated phrases, and expressions associated to “evil” in Spanish. Increasing your vocabulary permits you to talk about superstitions or jokingly inform somebody “you might be evil!” in Spanish.
Even for those who encounter different phrases for “evil” in Spanish slang in the future, realizing these extra customary expressions may help you ask for clarification on their meanings, since many are so comparable.
| Spanish | English |
| el mal de ojo | “the evil eye” (hurt transmitted by the eyes based on superstition) |
| un mal necesario | a obligatory evil |
| la maldad | wickedness/evil intentions |
| una maldición | a curse/an evil spell |
| maléfico/maléfica | evil/depraved |
| maligno/maligna | evil/unhealthy |
| el maligno | the Evil One/the satan/Devil |
| el menor de los dos malos | the lesser of two evils |
| una mirada malvada | “the evil eye” (a disapproving or jealous gaze) |
| pura maldad | pure evil |
| ¡Qué malo eres! | You’re so unhealthy! |
| la raíz de todos los males | the foundation of all evil |
‘The evil eye’ in Spanish-speaking cultures
The phrase mal de ojo (evil eye) actually translated means “evil of eye.” It refers to a spell, incantation, or jinx and is predicated on a superstition in numerous cultures all over the world. In response to this idea, individuals can transmit unfavourable power and hurt to others by a jealous or dangerous gaze, whether or not or not they intend it.
The folklore varies between cultures, however is frequent in Mexico in addition to different Spanish-speaking international locations. Some warn that those that have a look at a toddler or a child with evil intent can “solid a spell” by way of their eyes and trigger the kid to develop into unwell.
Others blame the impact of the mal de ojo when every thing appears to be going incorrect at house or at work. Recommendation and treatments for avoiding the evil eye or counteracting its results range from the usage of amulets to rituals and natural medicines. Be taught extra about Spanish-speaking cultures with Rosetta Stone.

