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A2 adjective #8,000 الأكثر شيوعاً 11 دقيقة للقراءة

mal-pago

الأكثر شيوعاً #8,000

تدرّب عليها أمثلة ملاحظات ونصائح mal-pago في 30 ثانية

الشرح mal-pago in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just starting to learn basic descriptions. 'Mal-pago' is a useful word because it helps you talk about jobs and money, which are common beginner topics. Think of it as 'bad' + 'paid'. You can use it in very simple sentences like 'O meu trabalho é mal-pago' (My job is poorly paid). At this level, don't worry too much about complex grammar. Just remember that 'mal' means 'badly' and 'pago' means 'paid'. You might hear this when people talk about their daily lives or their families. It is an important word for understanding the basic reality of work. Try to use it with the verb 'ser' (to be) to describe a job. For example, 'Um emprego mal-pago' is a poorly paid job. Remember that if you are a woman and you are talking about yourself, you say 'Eu sou mal-paga'. This small change at the end of the word is important in Portuguese.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

At the A2 level, you should start paying attention to the hyphen and the gender agreement. 'Mal-pago' is a compound adjective. This means it is made of two words that work together. You will use it to describe different professions. For example, you can say 'Os garçons são mal-pagos' (The waiters are poorly paid). Notice how 'pago' becomes 'pagos' because 'garçons' is plural. You can also use it to compare things. 'Este trabalho é mais mal-pago que o outro' (This job is more poorly paid than the other). At this level, you are expected to handle these basic changes in the word's ending. You should also recognize the difference between 'mal-pago' (the adjective) and 'pagar mal' (the verb). For example: 'A empresa paga mal' means 'The company pays poorly'. Both are common ways to express the same idea.

As a B1 learner, you can use 'mal-pago' to express opinions and talk about social issues. You might use it in a debate about the minimum wage or when discussing your career goals. At this level, you should be comfortable using the word in more complex sentences with conjunctions like 'embora' (although) or 'apesar de' (despite). For example: 'Apesar de ser mal-pago, ele gosta do que faz' (Despite being poorly paid, he likes what he does). You should also start using synonyms like 'mal remunerado' when you want to sound a bit more formal, such as in a professional email or a presentation. You will notice 'mal-pago' appearing in news articles about labor strikes or economic crises. Understanding the social context of the word—that it often implies a sense of unfairness—is key at this stage of your learning.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

At the B2 level, you should understand the nuances of 'mal-pago' in different Portuguese-speaking cultures. In Portugal, it's often linked to the 'geração à rasca' (the struggling generation), while in Brazil, it might be used to discuss the 'custo Brasil' (the high cost of doing business and living). You should be able to use the word fluently in discussions about economics, sociology, and personal development. You can also use it in the passive voice: 'Muitos trabalhadores sentem-se mal-pagos pelas grandes corporações' (Many workers feel poorly paid by large corporations). Your spelling should be perfect, including the hyphen. You should also be able to distinguish between 'mal-pago' and related terms like 'trabalho precário' (precarious work), explaining that while a job might be mal-pago, it might not necessarily be precário (it could be a stable but low-paying government job).

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

At the C1 level, you use 'mal-pago' with precision and stylistic flair. You might use it in a sophisticated essay about the structural inequalities of the global labor market. You understand that 'mal-pago' can be used metaphorically or in highly specific economic contexts. You are also aware of regional variations in how people complain about being underpaid. You can use the word in complex grammatical structures, such as the future subjunctive or the personal infinitive: 'Caso o trabalho continue a ser mal-pago, os funcionários entrarão em greve' (Should the work continue to be poorly paid, the employees will go on strike). You also know when to use more academic alternatives like 'sub-remuneração' or 'défice salarial' to vary your vocabulary in high-level discussions. You can analyze the etymology and the impact of the word in political rhetoric.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'mal-pago'. You can use it in any register, from the most informal slang-filled conversation to the most rigorous scientific paper. You understand the subtle emotional weight the word carries in various Lusophone literatures and can discuss how authors use the concept of being 'mal-pago' to build character and theme. You might even use it ironically or sarcastically in a social setting. You are fully aware of the history of the word and how the Orthographic Agreement affected its spelling. You can provide deep cultural analysis of why certain professions are traditionally 'mal-pagas' in Portuguese-speaking societies compared to others. Your usage is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker, and you can effortlessly switch between 'mal-pago' and its many synonyms to achieve the exact tone required for your communication.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

تدرّب عليها أمثلة ملاحظات ونصائح

mal-pago في 30 ثانية

Mal-pago means 'poorly paid' and is used to describe jobs or people earning low salaries, often implying a sense of unfairness or economic struggle.
It is a compound adjective that must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies (mal-pago, mal-paga, mal-pagos, mal-pagas).
Always use 'mal' (adverb) instead of 'mau' (adjective) when forming this word, and remember to include the hyphen in formal writing.
It is a common term in news, daily conversation, and political debates regarding labor rights and the cost of living in Lusophone countries.

The Portuguese adjective mal-pago is a compound word that directly translates to 'poorly paid' or 'underpaid.' It is a fundamental term used to describe employment conditions, economic status, and social grievances. In the Lusophone world, particularly in Portugal and Brazil, this term carries significant weight because it touches upon the reality of the labor market and the cost of living. When you describe a job as um emprego mal-pago, you are not just stating a fact about a salary; you are often implying a lack of fairness or a struggle for survival. The word is composed of the adverb mal (badly/poorly) and the participle pago (paid), derived from the verb pagar.

Labor Context: It is most frequently used to describe professions that require significant effort but offer low financial compensation, such as cleaning, basic retail, or certain entry-level administrative roles.
Social Commentary: In political discourse, mal-pago is used to highlight the gap between the minimum wage and the actual needs of a family, often appearing in news headlines regarding strikes and union demands.
Personal Identity: Individuals might describe themselves as mal-pagos (plural) to express frustration with their current employer or career path, indicating that their skills are being undervalued.

Muitos professores sentem que são mal-pagos considerando a importância do seu trabalho para a sociedade.

Translation: Many teachers feel they are poorly paid considering the importance of their work for society.

Understanding the nuance of this word requires looking at its gender and number agreement. Since it is an adjective, it must match the noun it modifies. For a woman, it becomes mal-paga; for a group of women, mal-pagas; and for a masculine plural noun, mal-pagos. This flexibility allows it to fit into any sentence structure, whether you are talking about a specific person or a general category of workers. It is also important to distinguish it from subpago, which is more technical and less common in daily conversation. Mal-pago is the 'street' word—the one you'll hear in a café when a friend complains about their boss or on a television talk show discussing the economy.

Aquele setor da economia é conhecido por oferecer apenas empregos mal-pagos.

Translation: That sector of the economy is known for offering only poorly-paid jobs.

When using mal-pago, the speaker usually conveys a sense of injustice. It is rarely used neutrally. For example, if someone says, 'The job pays little' (O trabalho paga pouco), it is a simple observation. However, saying 'It is a poorly paid job' (É um trabalho mal-pago) adds a layer of qualitative judgment, suggesting that the pay is insufficient for the effort required or the cost of living. This makes it a powerful word in advocacy and personal storytelling.

Ela decidiu mudar de carreira porque estava cansada de ser mal-paga.

Translation: She decided to change careers because she was tired of being poorly paid.

Grammar Note: Always use a hyphen. Writing 'mal pago' without the hyphen is a common spelling mistake, even among native speakers, but in modern Portuguese orthography (Acordo Ortográfico), the hyphen is standard for this compound adjective.

Using mal-pago correctly involves understanding its role as an adjective and its placement within a sentence. In Portuguese, adjectives usually follow the noun they modify, but they can also follow linking verbs like ser (to be) or estar (to be - temporary state). The choice between ser and estar is crucial: ser mal-pago implies a permanent or inherent characteristic of a job, while estar mal-pago might suggest a temporary situation or a specific feeling of being undervalued at a certain moment.

O estagiário é mal-pago, mas ganha muita experiência.

Translation: The intern is poorly paid, but gains a lot of experience.

When modifying a noun directly, the hyphenated form acts as a single unit. For example, um cargo mal-pago (a poorly-paid position). Notice how the adjective adapts to the noun's gender. If we were talking about a 'profession' (profissão), which is feminine, we would say uma profissão mal-paga. This agreement is the most common area where learners make mistakes. It is not enough to remember the word; you must remember to change its ending based on what you are talking about.

Masculine Singular: O motorista sente-se mal-pago pelo seu esforço diário. (The driver feels poorly paid for his daily effort.)
Feminine Singular: A enfermeira queixou-se de ser mal-paga no hospital privado. (The nurse complained about being poorly paid in the private hospital.)
Plural Forms: Estes são trabalhos mal-pagos que ninguém quer aceitar. (These are poorly-paid jobs that no one wants to accept.)

Muitas mulheres ainda são mal-pagas em comparação com os homens.

Translation: Many women are still poorly paid compared to men.

In more complex sentences, mal-pago can be modified by adverbs of degree, such as muito (very) or extremamente (extremely). For example: Aquele é um emprego muito mal-pago. Here, muito qualifies the entire compound adjective. You can also use it in comparative structures: Este trabalho é mais mal-pago do que o anterior (This job is more poorly paid than the previous one). Note that while 'pior pago' is technically possible, 'mais mal-pago' is much more common and sounds more natural in contemporary speech.

Ninguém gosta de se sentir mal-pago no final do mês.

Translation: Nobody likes to feel poorly paid at the end of the month.

If you spend any time in a Portuguese-speaking country, you will encounter mal-pago in various real-world scenarios. It is a staple of the evening news, where journalists report on economic trends. You might hear a news anchor say, 'A precariedade laboral e os salários mal-pagos estão a forçar os jovens a emigrar' (Labor precariousness and poorly-paid salaries are forcing young people to emigrate). This sentence captures a common theme in modern Portuguese and Brazilian society: the 'brain drain' caused by low wages.

In the Workplace: During lunch breaks or 'coffee moments' (a big part of Luso culture), coworkers might whisper about their compensation. 'Este projeto dá muito trabalho para ser tão mal-pago,' one might say, expressing that the effort-to-pay ratio is skewed.
In Literature and Music: Socially conscious music (like Fado or Brazilian MPB) often references the struggles of the working class. Lyrics might use mal-pago to evoke sympathy for a character who works from dawn till dusk for a pittance.

O sindicato organizou um protesto contra os trabalhos mal-pagos na indústria têxtil.

Translation: The union organized a protest against poorly-paid jobs in the textile industry.

You will also hear this word in the context of 'Gig Economy' discussions. With the rise of delivery apps and freelance platforms, the debate over whether these workers are mal-pagos is a hot topic in Lisbon, São Paulo, and Luanda. When people talk about 'Uberização' (Uberization), the term mal-pago is never far behind. It serves as a linguistic marker for a specific type of economic dissatisfaction that is shared across the Portuguese-speaking world.

Não aceites esse estágio; é muito mal-pago e não vais aprender nada.

Translation: Don't accept that internship; it's very poorly paid and you won't learn anything.

Finally, look for it in job advertisements—or rather, the absence of it. While no employer advertises a job as mal-pago, you will see it in the comments sections of job boards like LinkedIn or Glassdoor. Users will warn others: 'Cuidado, esta empresa é conhecida por ter funcionários mal-pagos' (Careful, this company is known for having poorly-paid employees). This informal use is vital for navigating the professional landscape in Lusophone countries.

One of the most frequent errors for English speakers learning Portuguese is the confusion between mal and mau. Both translate to 'bad' or 'badly' in English, but they serve different grammatical functions. Mal is an adverb (the opposite of bem/well), while mau is an adjective (the opposite of bom/good). Since mal-pago means 'badly paid,' you must use the adverb mal. Writing 'mau-pago' is a significant error that signals a lack of basic grammar understanding.

The Hyphen Rule: After the Orthographic Agreement of 1990 (enforced later), compound words with 'mal' generally take a hyphen when the second element starts with a vowel, 'h', or 'l'. However, mal-pago is traditionally hyphenated as a compound adjective even though 'p' is a consonant. Many learners forget the hyphen, writing 'mal pago'. While understandable, it's technically incorrect in formal writing.
Gender Agreement: Learners often treat mal-pago as an invariable adverb because it contains mal. Remember: the second part, pago, is a participle acting as an adjective. It must change! If you say 'As mulheres são mal-pago,' it sounds very broken. It must be mal-pagas.

Errado: O trabalho é mau-pago.
Correto: O trabalho é mal-pago.

Note: Always use 'mal' with 'pago'.

Another mistake is using the wrong verb. In English, we say 'to be poorly paid.' In Portuguese, you can use ser, estar, or sentir-se (to feel). However, avoid using ter (to have). You don't 'have' a poorly paid; you 'are' poorly paid or you 'have a poorly paid job' (tenho um emprego mal-pago). Confusing these structures can lead to sentences that sound like direct translations from English rather than natural Portuguese.

Errado: Elas estão mal-pago.
Correto: Elas estão mal-pagas.

Note: The adjective must agree with the subject 'elas'.

Lastly, don't confuse mal-pago with pagar mal. Pagar mal is a verb phrase ('to pay poorly'). 'A empresa paga mal' (The company pays poorly) is a common way to express the same idea using a verb instead of an adjective. Both are correct, but they require different sentence structures. If you use the adjective, you need the verb 'to be'. If you use the verb 'to pay', you don't need 'to be'.

While mal-pago is the most common term, Portuguese offers several synonyms and related expressions that can enrich your vocabulary and help you sound more like a native speaker depending on the context. Choosing the right word can change the tone from informal to academic or from descriptive to emotional.

Mal remunerado: This is the formal equivalent of mal-pago. You will find it in legal documents, formal news reports, and academic papers. It sounds more professional and less like a personal complaint. Example: 'O setor público é frequentemente mal remunerado.'
Subpago: Directly equivalent to 'underpaid.' It is less common in speech but very precise. It implies that the person is paid less than the market value or less than what is legally required.
Explorado: Literally 'exploited.' This is a much stronger word. It implies not just low pay, but unfair treatment and perhaps excessive hours. Use this when you want to express strong indignation.

Muitos artistas consideram-se mal-pagos pelos serviços de streaming.

Translation: Many artists consider themselves poorly paid by streaming services.

On the other end of the spectrum, we have the opposites. Bem-pago is the direct antonym. If you want to say someone is 'highly paid,' you might use muito bem-pago or altamente remunerado. In slang, especially in Brazil, you might hear ganhar bem (to earn well). For example, 'Ele ganha uma nota' (He earns a lot of money/a 'note').

É melhor ter um trabalho mal-pago do que estar desempregado?

Translation: Is it better to have a poorly-paid job than to be unemployed?

In casual conversation, people often avoid the adjective and use the verb: 'Eles pagam uma miséria' (They pay a misery/pittance). This is very common in Portugal and Brazil to emphasize how low the salary is. Using 'uma miséria' is much more evocative than simply saying mal-pago. Understanding these variations allows you to tailor your speech to the person you are talking to, whether it's a bank manager or a close friend.

How Formal Is It?

حقيقة ممتعة

The root 'pacare' also gave us the word 'peace' (paz). So, when you pay someone, you are literally 'making peace' with them regarding a debt. Being 'mal-pago' means the peace is not quite settled!

دليل النطق

UK /ˌmalˈpa.ɡu/

US /ˌmɑːlˈpɑː.ɡoʊ/

The primary stress is on the second syllable of the second word: PA-go.

يتقافى مع

Trago Vago Mago Afago Lago Estrago Pago Sago

أخطاء شائعة

Pronouncing 'mal' like the English word 'mail'.
Forgetting to close the final 'o' in European Portuguese.
Mixing up the 'l' sound between Brazilian and European dialects.
Stressing the first syllable 'MAL' instead of 'PA'.
Failing to pronounce the 'g' clearly.

مستوى الصعوبة

القراءة 2/5

Easy to recognize because 'mal' and 'pago' are common words.

الكتابة 3/5

The hyphen and gender agreement require some attention.

التحدث 2/5

Pronunciation is straightforward once you know 'mal' and 'pago'.

الاستماع 2/5

Clearly distinguishable in speech.

ماذا تتعلّم بعد ذلك

المتطلبات الأساسية

Mal Pago Pagar Trabalho Dinheiro

تعلّم لاحقاً

Bem-pago Remuneração Sindicato Contrato Exploração

متقدم

Sub-remuneração Precariedade Mais-valia Poder de compra Inflação

قواعد يجب معرفتها

Compound Adjectives with 'Mal'

Mal-pago, mal-educado, mal-humorado (all take hyphens).

Adjective Agreement

A mulher mal-paga / Os homens mal-pagos.

Adverb 'Mal' vs Adjective 'Mau'

Ele canta mal (adverb). Ele é um mau cantor (adjective).

Hyphenation in Portuguese

Use hyphen with 'mal' when the next word starts with a vowel or H (usually).

Short vs Long Participles

Pago is the short participle (used with ser/estar). Pagado is the long one (rarely used now).

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

أمثلة حسب المستوى

O meu emprego é mal-pago.

My job is poorly-paid.

Simple subject + verb 'ser' + adjective.

Ela é mal-paga no restaurante.

She is poorly-paid at the restaurant.

Feminine singular agreement: mal-paga.

Eles são mal-pagos.

They are poorly-paid.

Masculine plural agreement: mal-pagos.

É um trabalho mal-pago.

It is a poorly-paid job.

Adjective modifying the noun 'trabalho'.

Eu não quero um trabalho mal-pago.

I don't want a poorly-paid job.

Negative sentence structure.

O João é muito mal-pago.

João is very poorly-paid.

Using 'muito' to intensify the adjective.

Esta profissão é mal-paga.

This profession is poorly-paid.

Feminine singular: profissão is feminine.

Nós somos mal-pagos aqui.

We are poorly-paid here.

Plural agreement with 'nós'.

Muitos jovens têm empregos mal-pagos.

Many young people have poorly-paid jobs.

Plural noun 'empregos' matches 'mal-pagos'.

Ela sente-se mal-paga pelo seu esforço.

She feels poorly-paid for her effort.

Reflexive verb 'sentir-se' with adjective agreement.

Não aceites esse cargo, é mal-pago.

Don't accept that position, it's poorly-paid.

Imperative mood + descriptive clause.

As enfermeiras dizem que são mal-pagas.

The nurses say they are poorly-paid.

Feminine plural agreement: mal-pagas.

O setor da limpeza é muito mal-pago.

The cleaning sector is very poorly-paid.

Adjective modifying the concept 'setor'.

É difícil viver com um salário mal-pago.

It's difficult to live with a poorly-paid salary.

Common collocation: 'salário mal-pago'.

Ele mudou de vida porque era mal-pago.

He changed his life because he was poorly-paid.

Imperfect tense of 'ser' (era).

Vocês acham que este trabalho é mal-pago?

Do you think this work is poorly-paid?

Question form with 'acham que'.

Apesar de ser mal-pago, ele gosta do ambiente de trabalho.

Despite being poorly-paid, he likes the work environment.

Conjunction 'apesar de' + infinitive.

Muitas pessoas aceitam empregos mal-pagos por necessidade.

Many people accept poorly-paid jobs out of necessity.

Prepositional phrase 'por necessidade'.

Se o trabalho for mal-pago, ninguém se vai candidatar.

If the job is poorly-paid, no one will apply.

Future subjunctive 'for'.

Ela queixou-se de ser a funcionária mais mal-paga da empresa.

She complained about being the lowest-paid employee in the company.

Superlative construction: 'mais mal-paga'.

Os estágios costumam ser mal-pagos ou até não remunerados.

Internships are usually poorly-paid or even unpaid.

Verb 'costumar' (to be used to/usually).

É frustrante trabalhar tanto e continuar mal-pago.

It's frustrating to work so much and remain poorly-paid.

Infinitive as subject 'trabalhar tanto'.

O sindicato luta contra os salários mal-pagos na região.

The union fights against poorly-paid salaries in the region.

Verb 'lutar contra'.

Ela não quer ser mal-paga para o resto da vida.

She doesn't want to be poorly-paid for the rest of her life.

Time expression 'para o resto da vida'.

A precariedade laboral manifesta-se em contratos mal-pagos.

Labor precariousness manifests itself in poorly-paid contracts.

Abstract noun 'precariedade' + reflexive verb.

A economia depende, infelizmente, de muitos setores mal-pagos.

The economy depends, unfortunately, on many poorly-paid sectors.

Parenthetical adverb 'infelizmente'.

Ser mal-pago afeta a saúde mental dos trabalhadores a longo prazo.

Being poorly-paid affects workers' mental health in the long run.

Gerund-like use of infinitive 'Ser mal-pago'.

Não podemos ignorar que muitos licenciados estão mal-pagos.

We cannot ignore that many graduates are poorly-paid.

Negative modal 'Não podemos ignorar'.

O governo anunciou medidas para combater os empregos mal-pagos.

The government announced measures to combat poorly-paid jobs.

Purpose clause 'para combater'.

Ela recusou a oferta por considerá-la um insulto mal-pago.

She refused the offer considering it a poorly-paid insult.

Pronominal object '-la' attached to 'considerar'.

Muitos artistas vivem em condições mal-pagas durante anos.

Many artists live in poorly-paid conditions for years.

Feminine plural 'condições mal-pagas'.

A disparidade entre cargos bem-pagos e mal-pagos está a crescer.

The disparity between well-paid and poorly-paid positions is growing.

Contrast between antonyms.

A erosão do poder de compra torna qualquer salário mal-pago.

The erosion of purchasing power makes any salary poorly-paid.

Complex subject 'A erosão do poder de compra'.

É imperativo reformular as políticas que permitem trabalhos mal-pagos.

It is imperative to reformulate the policies that allow poorly-paid jobs.

Impersonal expression 'É imperativo'.

A mão de obra mal-paga é, muitas vezes, a base da globalização.

Poorly-paid labor is often the foundation of globalization.

Collocation 'mão de obra' (labor/manpower).

A sociedade não deve tolerar que os seus cuidadores sejam mal-pagos.

Society should not tolerate its caregivers being poorly-paid.

Subjunctive mood 'sejam' after 'tolerar que'.

O relatório destaca a prevalência de funções mal-pagas no setor tecnológico.

The report highlights the prevalence of poorly-paid roles in the tech sector.

Formal verb 'destaca' (highlights).

Houve uma revolta silenciosa contra os estágios mal-pagos.

There was a silent revolt against poorly-paid internships.

Metaphorical use 'revolta silenciosa'.

A dignidade humana é incompatível com o trabalho mal-pago.

Human dignity is incompatible with poorly-paid work.

Adjective 'incompatível' + preposition 'com'.

A análise sociológica revela um ciclo de pobreza mal-pago.

The sociological analysis reveals a cycle of poorly-paid poverty.

Academic phrasing.

A perenidade de estruturas mal-pagas reflete uma falha sistémica.

The persistence of poorly-paid structures reflects a systemic failure.

High-level vocabulary 'perenidade' and 'sistémica'.

Subjaz a esta discussão a ética de empregar indivíduos mal-pagos.

Underlying this discussion is the ethics of employing poorly-paid individuals.

Inverted sentence structure with 'subjaz'.

A retórica política amiúde ignora a realidade do cidadão mal-pago.

Political rhetoric often ignores the reality of the poorly-paid citizen.

Archaic/Formal adverb 'amiúde' (often).

A volatilidade do mercado exacerba a condição dos já mal-pagos.

Market volatility exacerbates the condition of those already poorly-paid.

Substantive use of the adjective 'os já mal-pagos'.

É uma falácia acreditar que o trabalho mal-pago é economicamente eficiente.

It is a fallacy to believe that poorly-paid work is economically efficient.

Complex noun phrase 'É uma falácia'.

A literatura contemporânea disseca a alma do trabalhador mal-pago.

Contemporary literature dissects the soul of the poorly-paid worker.

Metaphorical verb 'disseca'.

A injustiça intrínseca ao cargo mal-pago gera descoesão social.

The injustice intrinsic to the poorly-paid position generates social decohesion.

Advanced noun 'descoesão'.

O autor argumenta que a civilização não pode subsistir sobre bases mal-pagas.

The author argues that civilization cannot subsist on poorly-paid foundations.

Verb 'subsistir' (to subsist/survive).

تلازمات شائعة

Emprego mal-pago

Trabalho mal-pago

Salário mal-pago

Funcionário mal-pago

Setor mal-pago

Profissão mal-paga

Extremamente mal-pago

Sentir-se mal-pago

Considerar mal-pago

Contrato mal-pago

العبارات الشائعة

Ser mal-pago

— To be poorly paid. Used as a general state of being.

Ser mal-pago é uma realidade para milhões.

Trabalhar como um escravo e ser mal-pago

— To work extremely hard and receive very little pay. An idiomatic expression of frustration.

Neste escritório, trabalhamos como escravos e somos mal-pagos.

Um país de salários mal-pagos

— A country characterized by low wages. Often used in political criticism.

Portugal não pode continuar a ser um país de salários mal-pagos.

Geração mal-paga

— The generation of young people who struggle with low wages.

A geração mal-paga está a lutar pelo seu futuro.

Mão de obra mal-paga

— Cheap labor. Often used in industrial or global contexts.

A empresa mudou-se para a Ásia em busca de mão de obra mal-paga.

Estágio mal-pago

— A low-paying internship. A very common complaint among students.

Fiz um estágio mal-pago durante seis meses.

Cuidadores mal-pagos

— Poorly-paid caregivers. Refers to nurses, elderly care workers, etc.

Os cuidadores mal-pagos são os heróis da pandemia.

Professores mal-pagos

— Poorly-paid teachers. A recurring theme in educational strikes.

Os professores mal-pagos saíram à rua para protestar.

Setores tradicionalmente mal-pagos

— Sectors that have historically offered low wages.

A agricultura é um dos setores tradicionalmente mal-pagos.

Viver mal-pago

— To live in a state of being underpaid. Implies a lifestyle constraint.

Não é fácil viver mal-pago numa cidade cara.

يُخلط عادةً مع

mal-pago vs Mau pago

Common spelling error. 'Mau' is an adjective, but here we need the adverb 'mal'.

mal-pago vs Malpago

Incorrect spelling without the hyphen.

mal-pago vs Subpago

Often used interchangeably, but 'subpago' is more technical and less common.

تعبيرات اصطلاحية

"Pagar a patacos"

— To pay very little, almost nothing. Related to 'mal-pago'.

Aquela empresa paga a patacos.

Informal

"Ganhar uma miséria"

— To earn a pittance. The verbal equivalent of being 'mal-pago'.

Ele ganha uma miséria no novo emprego.

Informal

"Trabalhar para o boneco"

— To work for nothing or for very little gain. Often used when one is mal-pago.

Com este salário, sinto que estou a trabalhar para o boneco.

Informal

"Esmola, não salário"

— It's charity, not a salary. Used to describe an extremely mal-pago job.

O que eles me oferecem é uma esmola, não um salário.

Informal

"Pagar com amendoins"

— To pay with peanuts (very little). Similar to the English idiom.

Se pagas com amendoins, só tens macacos a trabalhar.

Slang

"Ganhar para o pão e pouco mais"

— To earn just enough for bread and little else. Describes the life of someone mal-pago.

Ele ganha para o pão e pouco mais naquele armazém.

Neutral

"Trabalhar de sol a sol por pouco"

— To work from sunrise to sunset for very little money.

Os camponeses trabalhavam de sol a sol e eram mal-pagos.

Literary

"Ser explorado até ao tutano"

— To be exploited to the bone. Often used when someone is severely mal-pago.

Naquela fábrica, os operários são explorados até ao tutano.

Informal

"Vender a alma por um tostão"

— To sell one's soul for a penny. Implies working a mal-pago job out of desperation.

Muitos vendem a alma por um tostão em empregos mal-pagos.

Informal

"Não chegar ao fim do mês"

— To not make it to the end of the month (financially). The result of being mal-pago.

Sendo mal-pago, ele nunca chega ao fim do mês.

Neutral

سهل الخلط

mal-pago vs Mal

Confused with 'Mau'.

Mal is an adverb (opposite of bem); Mau is an adjective (opposite of bom).

Ele trabalha mal. Ele é um mau trabalhador.

mal-pago vs Pagar mal

Confused with 'mal-pago'.

Pagar mal is a verb phrase; mal-pago is an adjective.

A empresa paga mal. O emprego é mal-pago.

mal-pago vs Gratuito

Related to money.

Gratuito means free (no cost); mal-pago means low pay.

O curso é gratuito. O instrutor é mal-pago.

mal-pago vs Voluntário

Related to working for little/no money.

Voluntário is someone who works for free by choice; mal-pago is someone paid poorly for their job.

Ele é voluntário na Cruz Vermelha. Ele é mal-pago na fábrica.

mal-pago vs Precário

Often happens together.

Precário refers to instability; mal-pago refers to low wages.

O contrato é precário e o salário é mal-pago.

أنماط الجُمل

O [Noun] é mal-pago.

O emprego é mal-pago.

Eles são [Adjective] e mal-pagos.

Eles são esforçados e mal-pagos.

Apesar de ser mal-pago, [Clause].

Apesar de ser mal-pago, ele continua na empresa.

O facto de ser mal-pago causa [Noun].

O facto de ser mal-pago causa muita desmotivação.

Não obstante a natureza mal-paga do cargo, [Clause].

Não obstante a natureza mal-paga do cargo, o prestígio é elevado.

A perenidade de um sistema mal-pago [Verb].

A perenidade de um sistema mal-pago compromete o futuro.

Any

Sentir-se mal-pago(a).

Sinto-me mal-paga.

Any

Um salário mal-pago.

Ele tem um salário mal-pago.

عائلة الكلمة

الأسماء

Pagamento (payment)

Paga (pay/wages)

Pagador (payer)

الأفعال

Pagar (to pay)

Repagar (to repay)

الصفات

Pago (paid)

Pagável (payable)

Bem-pago (well-paid)

Impago (unpaid)

مرتبط

Salário (salary)

Remuneração (remuneration)

Ordenado (wages)

Vencimento (salary/due date)

Honorários (fees)

سجّل مجاناً لرؤية جميع الأمثلة

كيفية الاستخدام

frequency

Very high in economic and social contexts.

أخطاء شائعة

Using 'mau-pago'. → mal-pago
You must use the adverb 'mal' (badly) to modify the participle 'pago'. 'Mau' is an adjective and doesn't fit here.
Writing 'mal pago' without a hyphen. → mal-pago
According to modern Portuguese orthography, compound adjectives starting with 'mal' require a hyphen.
Saying 'As mulheres são mal-pago'. → As mulheres são mal-pagas.
The adjective must agree in gender (feminine) and number (plural) with the subject 'mulheres'.
Confusing 'mal-pago' with 'pagar mal'. → O emprego é mal-pago / A empresa paga mal.
One is an adjective (requires 'to be'), the other is a verb phrase (doesn't require 'to be').
Using 'mal-pago' to mean 'badly treated'. → mal-tratado
'Mal-pago' only refers to money. For general treatment, use 'mal-tratado'.

نصائح

Agreement is Key

Always check if the noun is masculine, feminine, singular, or plural. 'As funcionárias mal-pagas' is the only correct way to describe a group of women.

Don't Forget the Hyphen

In Portuguese, 'mal-' compound adjectives almost always need that little dash. It makes your writing look professional.

Learn the Antonym

Learning 'bem-pago' at the same time will double your vocabulary and help you remember the structure.

Use with Caution

Calling someone's job 'mal-pago' can be seen as a direct criticism of their choices or their employer. Use it when you are sure of the context.

Mal = Bad

Just remember 'Mal' is the start of 'Malice' or 'Malfunction'. It always means something is going wrong—in this case, the pay!

Formal Alternative

Keep 'mal remunerado' in your back pocket for when you need to write a formal letter or email.

Listen for the 'G'

The 'g' in 'pago' is soft. Don't pronounce it too harshly. It should flow smoothly from the 'a'.

Sentence Variety

Instead of always saying 'o emprego é mal-pago', try 'ele tem um emprego mal-pago' or 'ela trabalha num setor mal-pago'.

Cultural Awareness

In Lusophone countries, discussing salaries is common but complaining about them being 'mal-pagos' is even more common!

Dialect Choice

Decide if you want to sound more Brazilian (maw-pago) or European (mal-pagu) and stick to it for consistency.

احفظها

وسيلة تذكّر

Think of 'MAL' as 'BAD' (like Maleficent) and 'PAGO' as 'PAY'. MAL-PAGO = BAD PAY.

ربط بصري

Imagine a worker holding a tiny, single coin while sweating over a large machine. The coin represents the 'mal-pago' status.

Word Web

Trabalho Dinheiro Pobreza Exploração Salário Empresa Sindicato Economia

تحدٍّ

Try to write three sentences describing different jobs in your city that are 'mal-pagos' and explain why you think so.

أصل الكلمة

The word is a compound formed from 'mal' (derived from the Latin 'male', meaning badly or poorly) and 'pago' (the short past participle of 'pagar', derived from the Latin 'pacare', meaning to pacify or satisfy a creditor).

المعنى الأصلي: The original meaning in Latin suggests 'poorly satisfied' or 'badly pacified' in a financial sense.

Romance (Latin origin).

السياق الثقافي

Be careful when using this word with your own boss! It is a strong criticism. Use 'mal remunerado' if you want to be diplomatic.

Similar to 'underpaid' or 'poorly paid'. However, in English, we often use 'low-wage' as an adjective for the job, whereas Portuguese uses 'mal-pago' for both the job and the person.

The song 'Fado do Operário' often touches on the theme of being mal-pago. The movie '7 Prisioneiros' (Brazilian) explores extreme cases of workers being mal-pagos and exploited. News headlines during the 'Geração à Rasca' protests in Lisbon.

تدرّب في الحياة الواقعية

سياقات واقعية

Job Interviews

Não quero um cargo mal-pago.
Qual é a remuneração?
O salário é competitivo?
Espero não ser mal-paga.

News/Politics

Aumento do salário mínimo.
Combater o trabalho mal-pago.
Greve por melhores salários.
Setores mal-pagos da economia.

Socializing with Coworkers

Somos todos mal-pagos aqui.
O chefe paga mal.
Precisamos de um aumento.
Este trabalho é mal-pago demais.

Applying for Internships

O estágio é mal-pago?
É um estágio não remunerado?
Ajuda de custo.
Experiência vs Salário.

Complaining about Expenses

Tudo está caro e eu sou mal-pago.
O meu salário não chega.
Viver com pouco.
Dificuldades financeiras.

بدايات محادثة

"Achas que os professores em Portugal são mal-pagos?"

"Já tiveste algum emprego que considerasses mal-pago?"

"Qual é a profissão mais mal-paga que conheces?"

"Como é que as pessoas sobrevivem com empregos mal-pagos na tua cidade?"

"Preferias um trabalho bem-pago que odeias ou um mal-pago que adoras?"

مواضيع للكتابة اليومية

Escreve sobre uma vez em que te sentiste mal-pago pelo teu esforço, mesmo que não fosse num emprego.

Quais são as consequências sociais de ter uma grande parte da população mal-paga?

Se fosses o governante do teu país, o que farias para acabar com os empregos mal-pagos?

Descreve o teu emprego ideal. Ele é bem-pago ou a remuneração não é o mais importante?

Reflete sobre a frase: 'O trabalho mal-pago é a forma mais moderna de escravatura'.

الأسئلة الشائعة

10 أسئلة

It is a compound word written with a hyphen: 'mal-pago'. Following the current orthographic rules, compound adjectives with 'mal-' usually take a hyphen.

In informal writing or older texts, you might see it without a hyphen. However, in modern standard Portuguese, the hyphen is required for the adjective form.

The feminine form is 'mal-paga'. For example: 'Ela é uma profissional mal-paga'.

The opposite is 'bem-pago'. It follows the same rules for hyphenation and agreement: bem-pago, bem-paga, bem-pagos, bem-pagas.

It is not a swear word, but it is a strong criticism. Saying a job is 'mal-pago' implies that the employer is not being fair.

Use 'mal remunerado' in formal contexts like business reports, legal documents, or academic writing. It sounds more objective and less emotional.

Yes, it specifically refers to financial compensation. For other types of 'bad' things, you would use different words (e.g., 'mal-tratado' for poorly treated).

Usually, 'mal-pago' describes the job or the worker. For a company, you would say 'uma empresa que paga mal'.

The plural is 'mal-pagos' (masculine) or 'mal-pagas' (feminine).

The meaning and grammar are the same. The only difference is the pronunciation of the 'l' and the final 'o'.

سجّل مجاناً للنصائح والملاحظات