Meaning
To have a bad start to the day, often leading to more bad luck.
Cultural Background
In Spain, the idiom is often linked to the superstition of 'Martes 13'. If you start a Tuesday the 13th badly, people will say '¡Claro, es martes 13!'. Mexicans might use 'empezar con el pie izquierdo' but also 'empezar de la patada', where 'de la patada' means 'very badly'. In Argentina, 'empezar con el pie izquierdo' is common, but in very informal settings, they might use 'empezar para el miércoles' as a polite way to avoid a swear word. The 'left side' is generally seen as unlucky in traditional Hispanic folklore, influencing everything from how you enter a church to how you get out of bed.
Use it to vent
This is a great phrase to use when you arrive at work or school late. It immediately explains your situation without needing a long story.
Don't say 'malo'
Remember: 'Empezar el día mal' (adverb). 'Empezar un malo día' is grammatically incorrect.
Meaning
To have a bad start to the day, often leading to more bad luck.
Use it to vent
This is a great phrase to use when you arrive at work or school late. It immediately explains your situation without needing a long story.
Don't say 'malo'
Remember: 'Empezar el día mal' (adverb). 'Empezar un malo día' is grammatically incorrect.
Empathy is key
When someone says this to you, respond with '¡Qué mala suerte!' or 'Lo siento' to show you understand.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb 'empezar'.
Hoy yo ________ el día mal porque no sonó mi alarma.
The subject is 'yo' and the context is past (it already happened), so 'empecé' is correct.
Which of these is the most common idiomatic way to say you had a bad start?
Me levanté con el pie ________.
The idiom specifically uses 'izquierdo' (left).
Match the situation to the phrase.
Situation: You spilled coffee on your laptop at 8:00 AM.
Spilling coffee early in the morning is a perfect example of starting on the wrong foot.
Complete the dialogue.
A: ¿Por qué estás tan enfadado? B: Es que hoy ________.
Starting the day badly is a logical reason for being angry/upset.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesHoy yo ________ el día mal porque no sonó mi alarma.
The subject is 'yo' and the context is past (it already happened), so 'empecé' is correct.
Me levanté con el pie ________.
The idiom specifically uses 'izquierdo' (left).
Situation: You spilled coffee on your laptop at 8:00 AM.
Spilling coffee early in the morning is a perfect example of starting on the wrong foot.
A: ¿Por qué estás tan enfadado? B: Es que hoy ________.
Starting the day badly is a logical reason for being angry/upset.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, they are essentially the same. 'Levantarse con el pie izquierdo' is more idiomatic and common in spoken Spanish.
Yes! You can say 'Empezamos el proyecto con el pie izquierdo' if things go wrong at the beginning of a task.
Historically, the left side was considered unlucky or 'sinister' in Roman culture.
It is 'empecé'. In Spanish, 'z' changes to 'c' before 'e' or 'i'.
Yes, but that means you had a *great* start to the day!
Yes, it is universally understood, though some regions have their own slang variations.
It's okay if you're explaining a minor mishap, but avoid the slang versions like 'como el culo'.
The opposite is 'Empezar el día con buen pie' or 'Empezar el día bien'.
Yes, 'Empezar el día mal' is the standard structure.
Yes, that is also very common and means the same thing.
Related Phrases
Mala pata
similarBad luck
Estar de mala leche
relatedTo be in a bad mood
Tener un día de perros
builds onTo have a terrible day
Empezar con buen pie
contrastTo start off well
