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"Mala" is a form of "mala", a noun which is often translated as "mailbag". "Malo" is an adjective which is often translated as "bad". Learn more about the difference between "malo" and "mala" below.
malo, el malo, la mala(
mah
-
loh
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (in quality)
2. (in morals)
3. (sickly)
6. (unpleasant)
a. naughty
Era un cachorro tan malo que tuvimos que regalarlo.He was such a naughty puppy that we had to give him away.
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
10. (bad person)
b. baddy (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
La protagonista se enamora de uno de los malos.The protagonist falls in love with one of the baddies.
la mala(
mah
-
lah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
a. mailbag
No sé cómo el cartero logra cargar esa mala con lo grande que está.I don't know how the mailman manages to carry that mailbag, as big as it is.
a. mail (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
El cartero solía entregar la mala extranjera solo dos veces por semana.The mailman used to deliver foreign mail only twice a week.
b. post (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
La mayoría de la mala que me llega ahora son catálogos o facturas.Most of the post I receive nowadays is catalogues or bills.