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A2 adjective 9분 분량

mal pago

연습하기 예시 노트와 팁 mal pago 30초 만에

설명 mal pago in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should learn 'mal pago' as a simple description. Think of it as a way to say someone 'earns little money'. You might use it in basic sentences like 'Eu sou mal pago' (I am underpaid) or 'O meu trabalho é mal pago' (My job is underpaid). At this stage, focus on the basic meaning and the fact that 'mal' means 'badly' and 'pago' means 'paid'. You don't need to worry about complex economic theories, just how to describe a job that doesn't provide much money. It is a useful phrase if you are talking about why you want a new job or why a certain profession is difficult. Remember to always use 'mal' (with an L) and not 'mau'.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the A2 level, you need to start paying attention to gender and number agreement. This is the most important step for this level. If you are a man, you say 'Estou mal pago'. If you are a woman, you say 'Estou mal paga'. If you are talking about 'trabalhos' (jobs), you say they are 'mal pagos'. If you are talking about 'profissões' (professions), you say they are 'mal pagas'. You should also be able to use the verb 'ser' for general facts (Teachers are underpaid) and 'estar' for specific situations (I am underpaid right now). You can also start using 'muito' to say 'muito mal pago' (very underpaid).

At the B1 level, you can use 'mal pago' to express opinions and participate in more detailed conversations about work and society. You should be able to compare jobs, for example: 'Este emprego é mais mal pago do que o anterior' (This job is more underpaid than the previous one). You will also encounter this term in news articles about strikes or the economy. You should understand the difference between 'mal pago' (the person/job) and 'salário baixo' (the salary itself). At this level, you can also start using synonyms like 'ganhar pouco' or 'não ganhar o suficiente' to vary your speech.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the B2 level, you should be comfortable using 'mal pago' in both formal and informal contexts. You should understand the social implications of the term—that it often implies a lack of fairness or recognition. You might use it in a debate about the 'brain drain' or the 'minimum wage'. You should also be aware of more formal alternatives like 'sub-remunerado'. You can use the term in complex sentence structures, such as: 'Apesar de ser altamente qualificado, ele continua a ser mal pago' (Despite being highly qualified, he continues to be underpaid). Your agreement of gender and number should be automatic and error-free.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the C1 level, you use 'mal pago' with nuance. You understand that it can be a subjective term and can use it to argue a point effectively. You might use it to describe systemic issues in the economy. You are also familiar with related idiomatic expressions and the emotional weight the term carries in different Lusophone cultures. You can distinguish between being 'mal pago' and being 'explorado' (exploited), using each term precisely to describe different levels of workplace injustice. You can also use the superlative 'muitíssimo mal pago' or other intensifying structures naturally in conversation.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'mal pago' and its place in the Portuguese language. You can use it in academic writing, high-level business negotiations, or literary analysis. You understand the historical and etymological roots of the phrase. You can effortlessly switch between 'mal pago', 'sub-remunerado', and more colorful colloquialisms depending on your audience. You can use the term to analyze complex labor market trends and the sociological impact of underpayment on different demographics. Your usage is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker, including the subtle use of irony or sarcasm involving the term.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

연습하기 예시 노트와 팁

mal pago 30초 만에

Mal pago describes a person or job with a low salary.
It requires gender and number agreement: mal pago, paga, pagos, pagas.
It is common in discussions about economic fairness and labor rights.
Formal alternatives include sub-remunerado; informal ones include ganhar uma miséria.

The Portuguese term mal pago is a compound adjective phrase used to describe a situation where a person, a job, or a specific task receives compensation that is considered insufficient, unfair, or below the standard market rate. It is composed of the adverb mal (badly) and the short past participle pago (paid). In Portuguese, the verb pagar has two past participles: pago (irregular/short) and pagado (regular/long). When used as an adjective or with the auxiliary verbs ser or estar, the short form pago is almost exclusively used. Therefore, mal pago literally translates to 'badly paid' or 'underpaid'.

Economic Context: It is most frequently heard in discussions regarding labor rights, economic crises, and career satisfaction. For instance, when workers strike, they often cite being mal pagos as a primary grievance.

Muitos jovens talentos abandonam o país porque se sentem mal pagos em relação às suas competências.

Translation: Many young talents leave the country because they feel underpaid relative to their skills.

Beyond just the literal salary, the term carries a heavy emotional weight. It often implies a lack of recognition or respect. In Portuguese culture, discussing one's salary is sometimes taboo, but complaining about being mal pago is a common social bond, especially among civil servants, teachers, and service industry workers who feel their contribution to society is not mirrored in their bank accounts.

Gender Agreement: Since pago functions as an adjective here, it must agree with the noun it modifies. A woman would say 'Eu sou mal paga', whereas a group of women would say 'Nós somos mal pagas'.

A profissão de enfermeira é, infelizmente, muito mal paga em várias regiões.

In a professional setting, using this term requires caution. While it is perfectly acceptable among friends or colleagues, saying it directly to a boss might be seen as confrontational unless you are in a formal salary negotiation. Instead, in formal reports, one might use sub-remunerado (under-remunerated), though mal pago remains the most common and natural way to express this sentiment in daily life.

Using mal pago correctly involves understanding its role as an adjective phrase that describes the state of a person or a position. It is almost always preceded by the verbs ser (to be - permanent/characteristic) or estar (to be - temporary/current state). When you use ser mal pago, you are describing the general nature of a job or profession. For example, 'Teaching is underpaid' becomes 'O ensino é mal pago'. When you use estar mal pago, you are referring to a specific person's current situation, perhaps implying that their current contract is unfair.

The Verb 'Ser': Used for general statements about professions or roles. Example: 'Aquelas funções são sempre mal pagas.'

Ser mal pago é uma das maiores causas de desmotivação no trabalho.

Agreement is the most critical grammatical rule to remember. Portuguese adjectives change their endings to match the gender and number of the noun they describe. Because mal pago ends in an '-o', it follows the standard pattern: mal pago (masculine singular), mal paga (feminine singular), mal pagos (masculine plural), and mal pagas (feminine plural). This is a common pitfall for English speakers who are used to the invariable 'underpaid'.

The Verb 'Estar': Used for specific, often temporary circumstances. Example: 'Neste momento, sinto que estou mal pago pelo meu esforço.'

Eles estão mal pagos nesta empresa, deviam pedir um aumento.

Another interesting usage is in the superlative form. To emphasize how poorly someone is paid, you can add muito (very) or extremamente (extremely). You might also hear the colloquial 'muitíssimo mal pago'. When comparing salaries, you would say 'Ele é mais mal pago que o colega'. Note that while pior is the comparative of mal, in the context of 'mal pago', we usually keep the phrase intact as 'mais mal pago' to avoid confusion, though 'pior pago' is also grammatically possible but less common in speech.

You will encounter mal pago in a variety of environments, ranging from the evening news to the breakroom at work. In the media, it is a staple of economic reporting. When journalists discuss the 'brain drain' (fuga de cérebros) in Portugal or Brazil, they inevitably mention that researchers and scientists are mal pagos, leading them to seek opportunities abroad. In political debates, opposition parties often accuse the government of keeping the minimum wage so low that the entire working class remains mal paga.

At the Workplace: It's the ultimate water-cooler complaint. Colleagues will whisper, 'Trabalhamos muito e somos mal pagos' (We work a lot and are underpaid).

Não aceites esse trabalho, é muito mal pago para a responsabilidade que tem.

In Portuguese literature and music, especially in genres like Fado or Brazilian Samba, there are often themes of the 'mal pago' worker—the honest person who toils away but never sees the fruits of their labor. This cultural archetype reinforces the idea that being mal pago is not just a financial state but a social injustice. You might also see it in job advertisements—or rather, in the comments section below them. In Brazil, it's common for people to comment 'Vaga arrombada' (slang for a terrible job opening) when a position is notoriously mal paga.

In Education: Teachers' strikes are frequent in Lusophone countries, and 'Professores mal pagos' is a common headline.

O setor da restauração queixa-se da falta de pessoal, mas os sindicatos dizem que os empregados são mal pagos.

Finally, you'll hear it in casual conversations about the cost of living. People often compare their salaries to the price of rent or groceries, concluding that they are mal pagos relative to the economy. It’s a word that bridges the gap between personal frustration and macro-economic reality.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make when using mal pago is failing to adjust for gender and number. In English, 'underpaid' is static. In Portuguese, if you are talking about a group of women, you must say mal pagas. Saying 'Elas são mal pago' sounds very broken and is a clear sign of a beginner. Always look at the subject of the sentence before choosing the ending.

Mal vs. Mau: Mistaking mal for mau is another common trap. Mal is an adverb (the opposite of bem), while mau is an adjective (the opposite of bom). Since pago is a participle acting as an adjective, it requires the adverb mal to modify it. You would never say 'mau pago'.

Incorrect: As enfermeiras são ~~mal pago~~.
Correct: As enfermeiras são mal pagas.

Another mistake involves the choice between the long and short past participle. While pagado exists, it is only used with the auxiliary verbs ter or haver in the active voice (e.g., 'Eu tinha pagado a conta'). However, for the passive voice or as an adjective, pago is the only correct choice. Saying 'Eu sou mal pagado' is incorrect and sounds very archaic or uneducated.

Confusion with 'Baixo Salário': Sometimes learners say 'Eu tenho um mal pago'. This is wrong. Mal pago is an adjective. You should say 'Eu tenho um salário baixo' (noun + adjective) or 'Eu sou mal pago' (pronoun + verb + adjective).

Lastly, be careful with the placement of muito. It should come before the whole phrase: muito mal pago. Putting it elsewhere, like mal muito pago, is nonsensical. Also, remember that mal pago is specific to money. If someone is 'badly treated', you say mal tratado, not mal pago, even if the treatment is part of a job.

While mal pago is the most common way to say 'underpaid', Portuguese offers several alternatives depending on the level of formality and the specific nuance you want to convey. Knowing these will make your Portuguese sound more sophisticated and precise.

Sub-remunerado: This is the technical, formal equivalent. You will find this in HR documents, academic papers, and serious journalism. It sounds more clinical and less emotional than mal pago.
Explorado: Literally 'exploited'. This is much stronger. It suggests that not only is the pay low, but the working conditions are abusive or the employer is taking advantage of the worker.

O estagiário sente-se explorado porque faz o trabalho de um sénior mas é mal pago.

If you want to focus on the salary itself rather than the person, you can use phrases like salário de miséria (starvation wage) or ganhar uma miséria. These are very common in colloquial speech to emphasize extreme poverty or insultingly low pay. Conversely, if you want to be more neutral, you can say ganhar pouco (to earn little).

Precário: Meaning 'precarious'. This refers to jobs that are not only mal pagos but also lack security, benefits, or a stable contract. It is a very common term in modern socio-economic discussions in Portugal and Brazil.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, you have bem pago or bem remunerado. If a job pays exceptionally well, you might hear the slang ganhar uma nota (Brazil) or ganhar balúrdios (Portugal). Understanding these variations allows you to navigate different social strata and express your opinions on the labor market with greater clarity.

How Formal Is It?

재미있는 사실

The word 'pago' is a 'short' participle. In Portuguese, verbs like 'pagar', 'ganhar', and 'gastar' have two forms. We say 'tinha pagado' but 'foi pago'. Using 'mal pagado' today sounds like you are from the 16th century!

발음 가이드

UK /ˈmal ˈpa.ɡu/

US /mɑl ˈpɑ.ɡoʊ/

The stress falls on the first syllable of 'pago' (PA-go).

라임이 맞는 단어

trago vago mago lago afago estago pressago vagar

자주 하는 실수

Pronouncing 'mal' like 'mail'.
Making the 'g' in 'pago' soft like a 'j'.
Stress on the last syllable: pa-GO.
Not reducing the final 'o' to an 'u' sound (in Portugal).
Confusing 'mal' with 'mau' in pronunciation.

난이도

독해 2/5

Easy to recognize if you know 'mal' and 'pagar'.

쓰기 3/5

Requires remembering gender/number agreement.

말하기 2/5

Pronunciation is straightforward.

듣기 2/5

Commonly used and usually clear in context.

다음에 무엇을 배울까

선수 학습

mal pago pagar trabalho dinheiro

다음에 배울 것

remuneração salário exploração carreira sindicato

고급

mais-valia precariedade sub-remuneração vencimento base

알아야 할 문법

Adjective Agreement

A mulher é mal pag**a**.

Short vs Long Participles

Ele foi pag**o** (Short) vs Ele tinha pag**ado** (Long).

Adverb vs Adjective (Mal vs Mau)

Ele porta-se **mal** (Adverb) vs Ele é um **mau** homem (Adjective).

Ser vs Estar

Ele **é** mal pago (Always) vs Ele **está** mal pago (Now).

Comparatives

Ele é **mais mal pago** do que eu.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

수준별 예문

O meu irmão é mal pago.

My brother is underpaid.

Masculine singular agreement.

Este trabalho é mal pago.

This job is underpaid.

Using 'ser' for a characteristic.

Eu não quero ser mal pago.

I don't want to be underpaid.

Negative sentence with 'querer'.

Ela é mal paga na loja.

She is underpaid at the shop.

Feminine singular agreement.

Eles são mal pagos.

They are underpaid.

Masculine plural agreement.

O salário é mal pago?

Is the salary underpaid? (Note: Usually we say 'the person is', but 'the work is'.)

Interrogative form.

A Maria é muito mal paga.

Maria is very underpaid.

Adding 'muito' for emphasis.

Nós somos mal pagos aqui.

We are underpaid here.

First person plural agreement.

As professoras são mal pagas em muitos países.

Female teachers are underpaid in many countries.

Feminine plural agreement.

Sinto que estou mal pago neste momento.

I feel that I am underpaid at the moment.

Using 'estar' for a current state.

Não aceites esse emprego, é muito mal pago.

Don't accept that job, it is very underpaid.

Imperative negative.

Muitos artistas são mal pagos no início da carreira.

Many artists are underpaid at the start of their career.

Plural agreement.

Ela é mais mal paga do que a irmã.

She is more underpaid than her sister.

Comparative form.

O meu pai sempre foi mal pago.

My father was always underpaid.

Pretérito Perfeito of 'ser'.

Vocês acham que são mal pagos?

Do you (plural) think you are underpaid?

Second person plural.

As estagiárias não devem ser mal pagas.

Female interns should not be underpaid.

Modal verb 'dever' + 'ser'.

Se eu fosse mal pago, procuraria outro emprego.

If I were underpaid, I would look for another job.

Conditional sentence (Imperfeito do Conjuntivo + Condicional).

É injusto que os médicos sejam tão mal pagos.

It is unfair that doctors are so underpaid.

Subjunctive mood after 'é injusto que'.

Apesar de trabalhar dez horas, ele continua mal pago.

Despite working ten hours, he continues to be underpaid.

Concessive clause with 'apesar de'.

A empresa tem fama de ter funcionários mal pagos.

The company has a reputation for having underpaid employees.

Noun phrase with 'funcionários mal pagos'.

Ninguém gosta de se sentir mal pago pelo seu esforço.

Nobody likes to feel underpaid for their effort.

Reflexive verb 'sentir-se'.

Ela demitiu-se porque era extremamente mal paga.

She quit because she was extremely underpaid.

Causal clause.

Os agricultores queixam-se de serem mal pagos pelos supermercados.

Farmers complain about being underpaid by supermarkets.

Passive structure with 'ser'.

Antigamente, as mulheres eram ainda mais mal pagas.

In the past, women were even more underpaid.

Historical comparison.

A precariedade laboral faz com que muitos jovens sejam mal pagos.

Labor precariousness causes many young people to be underpaid.

Causative structure with 'faz com que' + Subjunctive.

Ser mal pago é um obstáculo à emancipação financeira.

Being underpaid is an obstacle to financial emancipation.

Gerund/Infinitive as subject.

O sindicato luta contra a realidade dos trabalhadores mal pagos.

The union fights against the reality of underpaid workers.

Prepositional phrase.

Duvido que ele aceite o cargo se for mal pago.

I doubt he will accept the position if it is underpaid.

Future Subjunctive 'se for'.

Muitas vezes, quem é mal pago acaba por ter dois empregos.

Often, those who are underpaid end up having two jobs.

Relative clause 'quem é...'.

A economia sofre quando uma grande parte da população é mal paga.

The economy suffers when a large part of the population is underpaid.

Conditional/Temporal clause.

Ela não é apenas mal paga; ela é também desvalorizada.

She is not only underpaid; she is also undervalued.

Correlative conjunction 'não apenas... mas também'.

É necessário rever os salários dos que estão mal pagos.

It is necessary to review the salaries of those who are underpaid.

Impersonal expression 'É necessário'.

A disparidade salarial perpetua o ciclo de profissionais mal pagos.

The wage disparity perpetuates the cycle of underpaid professionals.

Complex noun phrases.

Embora a economia cresça, o setor terciário permanece mal pago.

Although the economy is growing, the tertiary sector remains underpaid.

Concessive clause with 'Embora' + Subjunctive.

A fuga de cérebros é uma consequência direta de investigadores mal pagos.

The brain drain is a direct consequence of underpaid researchers.

Cause and effect structure.

Não se pode esperar motivação de quem se sente cronicamente mal pago.

One cannot expect motivation from those who feel chronically underpaid.

Passive 'se' and adverbial modification.

O relatório aponta para um número crescente de licenciados mal pagos.

The report points to a growing number of underpaid graduates.

Formal reporting language.

A questão de ser mal pago transcende a mera questão monetária.

The issue of being underpaid transcends the mere monetary question.

Abstract subject.

Caso continuem mal pagos, os funcionários entrarão em greve.

Should they continue to be underpaid, the employees will go on strike.

Conditional 'Caso' + Subjunctive.

A precariedade é o destino de muitos que são mal pagos no mercado atual.

Precariousness is the fate of many who are underpaid in the current market.

Philosophical/Sociological tone.

A erosão do poder de compra é agudizada por estratos sociais mal pagos.

The erosion of purchasing power is exacerbated by underpaid social strata.

Passive voice with 'agudizada por'.

Subjaz à revolta social a perceção de que o povo é sistematicamente mal pago.

Underlying the social revolt is the perception that the people are systematically underpaid.

Inverted sentence structure for emphasis.

A política de baixos salários resulta numa mão de obra desmotivada e mal paga.

The low-wage policy results in a demotivated and underpaid workforce.

Complex attribute grouping.

É imperativo que se rompa com o paradigma do trabalhador mal pago.

It is imperative to break with the paradigm of the underpaid worker.

Impersonal 'se' in a subjunctive clause.

A malha social desintegra-se quando o trabalho qualificado é mal pago.

The social fabric disintegrates when skilled labor is underpaid.

Metaphorical language.

Até que ponto ser mal pago justifica a queda na produtividade nacional?

To what extent does being underpaid justify the drop in national productivity?

Interrogative complex phrase.

O estigma de ser mal pago afeta a saúde mental de milhares de cidadãos.

The stigma of being underpaid affects the mental health of thousands of citizens.

Subject-verb-object with abstract concepts.

Não obstante o prestígio, certas carreiras académicas são notoriamente mal pagas.

Notwithstanding the prestige, certain academic careers are notoriously underpaid.

Formal 'Não obstante' concession.

자주 쓰는 조합

trabalho mal pago

setor mal pago

profissão mal paga

sentir-se mal pago

continuar mal pago

ser considerado mal pago

altamente qualificado e mal pago

trabalhador mal pago

notoriamente mal pago

extremamente mal pago

자주 쓰는 구문

Trabalho muito e sou mal pago.

— A common complaint about working hard for little money.

Trabalho muito e sou mal pago, por isso vou sair.

Mais vale ser mal pago do que desempregado.

— A pessimistic saying about the job market.

Infelizmente, mais vale ser mal pago do que desempregado.

Ele é o mais mal pago da equipa.

— Comparing someone's salary to their peers.

Ele descobriu que é o mais mal pago da equipa.

Um serviço mal pago é um serviço mal feito.

— A warning that low pay leads to poor quality.

Cuidado, um serviço mal pago é um serviço mal feito.

Ninguém quer ser mal pago.

— A universal truth about employment.

Obviamente, ninguém quer ser mal pago.

A classe é mal paga.

— Referring to a whole group of professionals.

A classe dos polícias é mal paga.

Estou farto de ser mal pago.

— Expressing extreme frustration.

Estou farto de ser mal pago, vou pedir um aumento.

Um país de mal pagos.

— A critique of a national economy.

Portugal não pode ser um país de mal pagos.

Ser mal pago e ter de sorrir.

— The struggle of service workers.

O pior é ser mal pago e ter de sorrir aos clientes.

O talento mal pago foge.

— Referring to the brain drain.

O talento mal pago foge para outros países.

자주 혼동되는 단어

mal pago vs mau pago

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

mal pago vs mal pagado

Archaic/Incorrect. Use the short form 'pago' with ser/estar.

mal pago vs baixo salário

This is the noun phrase. You HAVE a low salary, but you ARE underpaid.

관용어 및 표현

"ganhar uma miséria"

— To earn a pittance or a miserable wage.

Ele trabalha o dia todo para ganhar uma miséria.

informal

"trabalhar para aquecer"

— To work for nothing or for very little gain (literally: to work to keep warm).

Com este salário, sinto que estou a trabalhar para aquecer.

informal

"ganhar uma mão-cheia de nada"

— To earn absolutely nothing or very little.

No fim do mês, ganho uma mão-cheia de nada.

colloquial

"pagar com amendoins"

— To pay peanuts (common in Brazil/influenced by English).

Eles querem génios mas pagam com amendoins.

informal

"salário de fome"

— Starvation wage.

Ninguém sobrevive com este salário de fome.

emotive

"escravatura moderna"

— Modern slavery (used hyperbolically for very low pay).

Este emprego é escravatura moderna.

informal

"trabalhar por amor à camisola"

— To work for the love of the cause (often used when pay is low).

Nesta ONG, trabalhamos por amor à camisola.

idiomatic

"não ganhar para a sopa"

— Not earning enough even for basic food.

O que ele recebe não ganha para a sopa.

informal

"viver com uma mão à frente e outra atrás"

— To live in extreme poverty.

Se continuar mal pago, vou viver com uma mão à frente e outra atrás.

idiomatic

"pagar uma esmola"

— To pay an alms (insultingly low pay).

O patrão paga uma esmola pelo nosso esforço.

informal

혼동하기 쉬운

mal pago vs Mal

Sounds like 'Mau'.

Mal is the opposite of 'bem'. Mau is the opposite of 'bom'.

Ele sente-se mal. Ele é um mau aluno.

mal pago vs Pago

Short vs Long participle.

Pago is for passive/adjectives. Pagado is for active past tenses with 'ter'.

O café está pago. Eu já tinha pagado.

mal pago vs Prestar

Sometimes people think of 'prestação'.

Prestar is to provide (a service). Pagar is to pay.

Ele presta um serviço mal pago.

mal pago vs Remunerado

Synonym.

Remunerado is more formal than pago.

Um estágio bem remunerado.

mal pago vs Gasto

Opposite of earning.

Gasto is spent. Pago is paid.

O dinheiro foi todo gasto.

문장 패턴

[Subject] + ser + mal pago.

Eu sou mal pago.

[Subject] + estar + muito + mal pago.

Ela está muito mal paga.

Se [Subject] fosse mal pago, [Condition].

Se eu fosse mal pago, saía.

É [Adjective] que [Subject] seja mal pago.

É triste que eles sejam mal pagos.

Apesar de [Infinitive], [Subject] continua mal pago.

Apesar de trabalhar muito, ele continua mal pago.

O facto de ser mal pago [Verb].

O facto de ser mal pago desmotiva-o.

Não obstante [Noun], [Subject] é mal pago.

Não obstante o esforço, o pessoal é mal pago.

[Noun] de ser mal pago.

O estigma de ser mal pago.

어휘 가족

명사

pagamento

pagador

paga

동사

pagar

repagar

형용사

pago

pagável

pagador

사용법

frequency

Very common in daily life and media.

자주 하는 실수

Eu sou mal pagado. → Eu sou mal pago.
The short participle 'pago' must be used with auxiliary verbs like 'ser' or 'estar'.
Elas são mal pago. → Elas são mal pagas.
The adjective must agree in gender (feminine) and number (plural) with the subject 'elas'.
Eu sou mau pago. → Eu sou mal pago.
'Mal' is the adverb required here, not the adjective 'mau'.
Tenho um mal pago. → Tenho um salário baixo.
'Mal pago' is an adjective, not a noun. You can't 'have' a 'mal pago'.
Ele é o pior pago. → Ele é o mais mal pago.
While 'pior' is the comparative of 'mal', in the specific phrase 'mal pago', we usually use 'mais mal' to keep the phrase recognizable.

팁

Agreement is Key

Always match 'pago' to the subject. O homem é mal pago. A mulher é mal paga. Os homens são mal pagos. As mulheres são mal pagas.

Formal Alternative

In a professional email or report, use 'sub-remunerado' to sound more objective and professional.

Social Context

Complaining about being mal pago is a common social activity in Portugal and Brazil. It's a way people bond over shared economic struggles.

Mal vs Mau

If you can replace it with 'bem', use 'mal'. If you can replace it with 'bom', use 'mau'. (Bem pago -> Mal pago).

Brazilian Pronunciation

In Brazil, 'mal' sounds like 'ma-oo'. Don't confuse it with 'mau' (bad) even though they sound the same there!

Emphasis

Add 'muito' before the phrase to emphasize your point: 'muito mal pago'.

Subjectivity

Remember that 'mal pago' is subjective. Use it when you feel the pay doesn't match the effort or the market.

News Headlines

Look for headlines like 'Professores mal pagos' to see how the word is used to describe entire social classes.

Avoid Hyphens

Unlike some other compound words, 'mal pago' is generally written as two words.

The 'P' Connection

P is for Pay and Pago. Mal is for Bad. Bad Pay = Mal Pago.

암기하기

기억법

Think of 'Mal' as 'Bad' (like Maleficent) and 'Pago' as 'Pay'. Bad Pay = Mal Pago.

시각적 연상

Imagine a worker holding a tiny, tiny coin while looking at a giant mountain of work. The coin is 'mal' (bad) and it's his 'pago' (pay).

Word Web

Trabalho Dinheiro Salário Injustiça Greve Patrão Empresa Economia

챌린지

Try to find three different jobs in your city that people usually say are 'mal pagos' and write a sentence for each.

어원

From the Latin 'male' (badly) and 'pacatus' (the past participle of 'pacare', meaning to pacify or satisfy a creditor).

원래 의미: To be poorly satisfied or poorly pacified in a financial sense.

Romance (Latin roots).

문화적 맥락

Be careful when calling someone 'mal pago' to their face, as it can be seen as pitying. Use it to describe situations or groups rather than individuals unless you know them well.

Equivalent to 'underpaid' or 'working for peanuts'. The emotional weight is similar, though Portuguese speakers might be more vocal about it in social settings.

The song 'Construção' by Chico Buarque touches on the life of an underpaid construction worker. The film 'Que Horas Ela Volta?' (The Second Mother) explores the life of underpaid domestic workers in Brazil. Portuguese news often uses the term 'os mal pagos' to refer to the working class.

실생활에서 연습하기

실제 사용 상황

Job Interview

Qual é o salário?
Não quero ser mal pago.
A oferta é baixa.
O mercado paga mais.

News/Politics

Aumento do salário mínimo.
Trabalhadores mal pagos.
Greve geral.
Custo de vida.

Complaining with friends

O meu chefe é forreta.
Ganho uma miséria.
Estou farto disto.
Trabalho como um escravo.

Academic/Research

Fuga de cérebros.
Investigadores mal pagos.
Falta de verbas.
Bolsas de estudo.

Service Industry

Gorjetas.
Horas extras.
Trabalho por turnos.
Salário precário.

대화 시작하기

"Achas que os professores são mal pagos no teu país?"

"Alguma vez tiveste um emprego onde eras muito mal pago?"

"O que farias se descobrisses que és o mais mal pago da empresa?"

"Quais são as profissões mais mal pagas hoje em dia?"

"É possível ser feliz num trabalho sendo mal pago?"

일기 주제

Escreve sobre uma experiência em que te sentiste mal pago pelo teu esforço.

Como é que o facto de ser mal pago afeta a vida de uma família?

Deveria haver um salário máximo para que ninguém seja mal pago?

Descreve o teu emprego de sonho. É bem pago ou mal pago?

O que mudarias na economia para que ninguém fosse mal pago?

자주 묻는 질문

10 질문

In modern Portuguese, it is usually written as two separate words without a hyphen: 'mal pago'.

No, that is considered incorrect in modern Portuguese. You should use the short form 'pago' when it follows the verb 'ser' or 'estar'.

Yes, primarily. It specifically refers to financial compensation. If you want to say someone is poorly treated in other ways, use 'mal tratado'.

You must use the feminine plural form: 'mal pagas'.

The opposite is 'bem pago' (well-paid).

It is not a swear word, but it is a strong complaint. Using it about yourself is fine; using it about someone else might sound like you are pitying them.

No. A bill is either 'paga' (paid) or 'não paga' (not paid). 'Mal pago' refers to the rate of pay, not the act of paying a specific invoice.

The meaning is identical. The only difference is the pronunciation of the 'l' in 'mal'.

Yes, to compare two people. Example: 'Ele é mais mal pago do que eu'.

Because 'mal' is an adverb modifying the participle 'pago'. Adjectives (mau) modify nouns; adverbs (mal) modify verbs/adjectives.

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