Malpais not in SpanishDict
There is a national park in New Mexico named 'El Malpais' said to mean 'the badlands'. In SpanishDict there is no meaning for 'el malpais'. Why is that?
2 Answers
look in the English section of your school bilingual dictionary for badlands.
npl páramo m...el páramo...-also - el pedregal
Even in English we sometimes will join two words... ex. bagpiper, backyard, etc
Mal país (Malpais) - bad country...can be used as an expression of badlands.
The fact that the Mexicans have conjoined it...doesn't take away from its meaning.
However,'el páramo' -or- 'el pedregal' is technically more correct.
The idea is always more important than the word. Bad lands are usually rocky wastes lands, wet useless lands, or cold inhospitable lands.
Although 'Malpais'...seems like something invented, it is becoming accepted, and might possibly be in a dictionary someday. The point thus far is to make the reader get the jest.
I agree with and support the answer viejito provided. Just a closing suggestion, submit the phrase to our phrasebook and the send me a private message letting me know you did. I'll watch for it to show up and help approve it for submission and you'll get credit (rep points and a badge) for helping us improve our phrasebook. 
