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"Ill" is a form of "ill", an adjective which is often translated as "enfermo". "Well" is a form of "well", an adjective which is often translated as "bien". Learn more about the difference between "ill" and "well" below.
ill(
ihl
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (sick)
b. malo (colloquial)
He's ill and won't be going to school today.Está malo y no irá a la escuela hoy.
An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
3. (poorly)
a. mal
It is a lack of respect to speak ill of the dead.Es una falta de respeto hablar mal de los difuntos.
4. (scarcely)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I can ill afford to eat in a restaurant while I'm unemployed.No me puedo dar el lujo de comer en un restaurante mientras estoy sin empleo.
You can ill afford to make another mistake now that you're on probation.Mal puedes permitirte cometer otro error ahora que estás en libertad condicional.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
5. (problem)
a. el mal (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).
Don't allow the ills of the world to diminish the good you have in your hearts.No permitan que los males del mundo disminuyan el bien que tienen en sus corazones.
well(
wehl
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
2. (properly)
4. (probably)
a. probablemente
He may well come with us to the auction.Probablemente vendrá con nosotros a la subasta.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
An interjection is a short utterance that expresses emotion, hesitation, or protest (e.g., Wow!).