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"Bad" is an adjective which is often translated as "malo", and "poor" is an adjective which is often translated as "pobre". Learn more about the difference between "bad" and "poor" below.
bad(
bahd
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
a. malo
I can't believe I wasted my time on such a bad movie!¡No puedo creer que perdí mi tiempo viendo una película tan mala!
b. mal
I've read it a second time and still think that it's a bad book, even if very entertaining.Lo he leído por segunda vez y sigo pensando que es un mal libro, aunque muy entretenido.
2. (harmful)
3. (unpleasant)
5. (wicked)
6. (severe)
8. (guilty)
a. mal
I feel bad for not having remembered our wedding anniversary.Me siento mal por no haberme acordado de nuestro aniversario de boda.
9. (afflicted)
a. malo
My dad has a bad back and cannot lift heavy objects.Mi papá tiene la espalda mala y no puede levantar objetos pesados.
10. (finance)
a. sin fondos
I knew it was a bad check when it was returned by the bank.Supe que era un cheque sin fondos cuando el banco me lo devolvió.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
12. (colloquial) (used for emphasis) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I love you so bad that it hurts.Te quiero tanto que duele.
It's so hot out. I need some water real bad.Hace tanto calor afuera. Estoy desesperado por un poco de agua.
poor(
poor
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (not rich)
a. pobre
She grew up in a poor family in Alabama.Se crio en Alabama en el seno de una familia pobre.
a. pobre
The poor girl had to walk for several hours in the snow.La pobre niña tuvo que andar varias horas en la nieve.
3. (deficient)
a. pobre
It's difficult to grow things here because the soil is poor.Es difícil cultivar la tierra en esta zona porque el suelo es pobre.
b. malo
The company has a reputation for poor customer service.La empresa es conocida por su servicio al cliente malo.
c. escaso
You shouldn't read in poor light as it strains your eyes.No deberías leer con escasa luz porque se te cansarán los ojos.
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
a. los pobres (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
They have money for wars, but can’t find money to feed the poor.Hay dinero para las guerras, pero no pueden dar de comer a los pobres.
