At a C2 level, understanding 'male' goes beyond its basic adverbial meaning of 'badly'. While it still primarily functions as an adverb, its nuances often intertwine with idiomatic expressions and subtle emotional connotations. Consider its use in phrases like 'voler male a qualcuno' (to wish ill upon someone/to dislike someone intensely), where 'male' signifies harm or ill will rather than just poor execution. Another example is 'avere un brutto male' which usually refers to a serious illness, often a terminal one, highlighting its use in a more profound and metaphorical sense than simply 'feeling bad'.
§ What 'male' means
The Italian word 'male' (pronounced MAH-leh) is an adverb. It means 'badly' or 'poorly'. It's super common, so you'll hear and use it a lot. Think of it as the opposite of 'bene' (well).
- Italian Word
- male
- Pronunciation
- MAH-leh
- Word Type
- Adverb
- English Definition
- badly, poorly
- CEFR Level
- A1
§ How to use 'male' in a sentence
As an adverb, 'male' modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. It tells you *how* something is done or *how* someone feels. It doesn't change its form based on gender or number, which makes it pretty straightforward.
Here's the basic rule: you usually place 'male' directly after the verb it modifies.
Parlo male l'italiano. (I speak Italian badly.)
Mi sento male. (I feel bad/sick.)
You can also use 'male' with other adverbs or adjectives to intensify their negative meaning, though this is less common at A1 level.
§ Common phrases with 'male'
Here are some everyday phrases where 'male' pops up:
Stare male: To be unwell, to feel bad.
Mia sorella sta male oggi. (My sister is unwell today.)
Andare male: To go badly, to turn out poorly.
L'esame è andato male. (The exam went badly.)
Far male: To hurt (physically or emotionally).
Mi fa male la testa. (My head hurts.)
§ 'Male' vs. 'Cattivo' (Adjective)
This is a common point of confusion for English speakers. Remember:
Male is an adverb: it describes *how* an action is performed or *how* someone feels. (e.g., 'He sings badly' - Canta male.)
Cattivo (cattiva, cattivi, cattive) is an adjective: it describes a *noun* (a person, place, or thing). (e.g., 'He is a bad person' - È una persona cattiva.)
Quel film è cattivo. (That movie is bad.)
See the difference? One describes the *quality* of something, the other describes the *way* something happens.
§ Practice makes perfect
The best way to get comfortable with 'male' is to use it. Try making your own sentences:
How do you feel today?
How did your last task go?
Keep practicing, and you'll master 'male' in no time!
أمثلة حسب المستوى
Ho dormito male stanotte.
I slept badly last night.
Here, 'male' describes how the action of sleeping was performed.
Ha cantato molto male.
He sang very badly.
'Molto' (very) intensifies 'male'.
Mi sento male, credo di avere la febbre.
I feel bad, I think I have a fever.
'Sentirsi male' means 'to feel unwell'.
Il computer funziona male oggi.
The computer is working badly today.
'Funzionare male' means 'to malfunction' or 'not work properly'.
Non parlare male degli altri.
Don't speak badly of others.
'Parlare male di' means 'to speak ill of'.
Questo vestito mi sta male.
This dress looks bad on me.
'Stare male' in this context means 'to not suit' or 'look bad on'.
Ho mal di testa.
I have a headache.
'Avere mal di' is a common construction for expressing pain in a specific body part.
Andiamo male con il tempo.
We are doing badly with time (we're running late).
'Andare male' can mean 'to go badly' or 'to be in a bad situation' like being late.
La situazione si è evoluta male nel corso degli anni, portando a conseguenze inattese e difficili da gestire per tutti i soggetti coinvolti.
The situation evolved badly over the years, leading to unexpected and difficult-to-manage consequences for all parties involved.
Nonostante gli sforzi congiunti, il progetto è andato male a causa di una serie di intoppi burocratici e la mancanza di fondi adeguati, compromettendo il risultato finale.
Despite joint efforts, the project went badly due to a series of bureaucratic hurdles and lack of adequate funding, compromising the final outcome.
Ha reagito molto male alla critica costruttiva, interpretandola come un attacco personale piuttosto che come un'opportunità di miglioramento.
He reacted very badly to constructive criticism, interpreting it as a personal attack rather than an opportunity for improvement.
Il medico ha spiegato che, sebbene l'operazione sia andata bene, il recupero potrebbe procedere male se il paziente non segue le istruzioni post-operatorie con rigore.
The doctor explained that, although the operation went well, recovery could go badly if the patient doesn't strictly follow post-operative instructions.
Dopo la rottura, i due ex-partner si sono lasciati molto male, tagliando ogni ponte e rendendo impossibile qualsiasi forma di riconciliazione futura.
After the breakup, the two ex-partners parted very badly, burning all bridges and making any future reconciliation impossible.
La gestione della crisi è stata affrontata molto male dalle autorità competenti, che hanno sottovalutato la gravità della situazione e agito con ritardo.
The crisis management was handled very badly by the competent authorities, who underestimated the seriousness of the situation and acted late.
Il film, pur avendo un cast stellare, è stato accolto molto male dalla critica, che ne ha sottolineato le lacune narrative e la regia poco ispirata.
The film, despite having a stellar cast, was received very badly by critics, who highlighted its narrative shortcomings and uninspired direction.
Per quanto si sia impegnato, l'esame è andato male perché non aveva studiato a sufficienza l'argomento più complesso, dimostrando una preparazione superficiale.
As much as he tried, the exam went badly because he hadn't studied the most complex topic sufficiently, showing superficial preparation.
اختبر نفسك 54 أسئلة
The speaker is saying they don't sing badly.
Someone speaks Italian badly.
The speaker feels bad today.
Read this aloud:
Lavoro male.
Focus: mah-leh
قلت:
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Read this aloud:
Scrivi male.
Focus: skree-vee mah-leh
قلت:
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Read this aloud:
Cucino male.
Focus: koo-chee-noh mah-leh
قلت:
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Write a short sentence describing something that went badly today.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
La mia giornata è andata male. (My day went badly.)
Complete the sentence: 'Il tempo è...' to say the weather is bad.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Il tempo è male. (The weather is bad.)
Translate: 'He sings badly.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Lui canta male.
How does the car work today?
Read this passage:
Oggi la macchina non funziona bene. Funziona male. (Today the car doesn't work well. It works badly.)
How does the car work today?
The passage states 'Funziona male,' meaning it works badly.
The passage states 'Funziona male,' meaning it works badly.
How did the Italian lesson go for the person?
Read this passage:
La lezione di italiano è stata difficile. Non ho capito molto. È andata male. (The Italian lesson was difficult. I didn't understand much. It went badly.)
How did the Italian lesson go for the person?
The passage says 'È andata male,' indicating it went badly.
The passage says 'È andata male,' indicating it went badly.
What does 'cucinato male' mean in this context?
Read this passage:
Il cibo non era buono. Era cucinato male. (The food was not good. It was cooked badly.)
What does 'cucinato male' mean in this context?
'Male' means badly, so 'cucinato male' means cooked badly.
'Male' means badly, so 'cucinato male' means cooked badly.
Think about how you'd feel if you didn't sleep well.
Consider the weather. How would rain fall 'badly'?
Even if someone sings 'badly,' they can still enjoy it.
Read this aloud:
Parlo male l'italiano, ma sto imparando.
Focus: male
قلت:
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Read this aloud:
Mi sento male oggi, ho mal di testa.
Focus: sento male
قلت:
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Read this aloud:
Ha cucinato male la pasta.
Focus: cucinato male
قلت:
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Write a sentence using 'male' to describe someone singing poorly.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Lei canta molto male.
Describe a situation where something went 'badly' using 'male'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
La riunione è andata molto male.
Complete the sentence: 'Il mio computer funziona _____' (My computer is working badly).
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Il mio computer funziona male.
Perché l'esame è andato male?
Read this passage:
Ho studiato poco per l'esame, quindi è andato male. Ora devo studiare di più per il prossimo.
Perché l'esame è andato male?
The passage states 'Ho studiato poco per l'esame, quindi è andato male.' (I studied little for the exam, so it went badly).
The passage states 'Ho studiato poco per l'esame, quindi è andato male.' (I studied little for the exam, so it went badly).
Come si sente la persona?
Read this passage:
Il tempo è brutto oggi, piove e fa freddo. Per questo, mi sento un po' male.
Come si sente la persona?
The passage says 'mi sento un po' male' (I feel a bit bad).
The passage says 'mi sento un po' male' (I feel a bit bad).
Cosa è successo alla pasta?
Read this passage:
Ho provato a cucinare la pasta, ma ho messo troppo sale. È venuta molto male.
Cosa è successo alla pasta?
The passage says 'ho messo troppo sale. È venuta molto male.' (I put too much salt. It came out very badly). Therefore, it came out salty.
The passage says 'ho messo troppo sale. È venuta molto male.' (I put too much salt. It came out very badly). Therefore, it came out salty.
In Italian, the adverb 'male' usually follows the verb it modifies. 'Lui' is the subject, 'canta' is the verb.
The definite article 'la' goes with the noun 'cuoca'. 'Cucina' is the verb, and 'male' follows it.
Time adverbs like 'ieri' (yesterday) often come at the beginning or end of a sentence for emphasis. 'Ho dormito' is the passato prossimo of 'dormire', and 'male' modifies 'dormito'.
Choose the sentence where 'male' is used correctly to describe an action.
'Male' as an adverb modifies the verb 'cucinato' (cooked), indicating the action was done badly.
Which of the following sentences uses 'male' to express a negative outcome or situation?
Here, 'male' describes how the car is functioning, indicating a poor or negative performance.
Select the option where 'male' acts as an adverb modifying a verb.
'Male' modifies the verb 'trovi' (find yourself), indicating discomfort or a negative experience in the city.
In the sentence 'Quel film è stato recitato molto male', 'male' refers to the quality of the acting.
'Male' in this context directly modifies the verb 'recitato' (acted), indicating that the acting was of poor quality.
The phrase 'mi sento male' exclusively means 'I feel badly' in a moral sense.
'Mi sento male' most commonly means 'I feel sick' or 'I feel unwell' physically, though it can also imply feeling bad emotionally.
If someone says 'Non ti sta male quel colore', they are implying that the color looks good on you.
The double negative 'non...male' (not badly) in this construction means 'it suits you well' or 'it doesn't look bad on you'.
The correct order to form a coherent sentence is 'si tratta male il cuore di' which means 'the heart is treated badly by'.
The correct order to form a coherent sentence is 'i ragazzi si sono comportati male' which means 'the boys behaved badly'.
The correct order to form a coherent sentence is 'lui parla male la lingua inglese' which means 'he speaks the English language badly'.
Nonostante gli sforzi, la situazione economica del paese è andata di ___ in peggio.
L'espressione 'di male in peggio' significa che una situazione sta deteriorando progressivamente.
Il direttore ha gestito la crisi così ___ che l'azienda ne ha risentito gravemente.
In questo contesto, 'male' indica che la gestione è stata inefficace o dannosa.
Ho dormito così ___ la notte scorsa che mi sento ancora stanco.
Dormire 'male' significa non aver riposato a sufficienza o in modo disturbato.
Si è comportato così ___ durante la riunione che ha offeso tutti i presenti.
Comportarsi 'male' implica un atteggiamento scortese o inappropriato.
Il progetto è iniziato sotto i migliori auspici, ma poi è finito ___ a causa di problemi imprevisti.
Finire 'male' significa che l'esito è stato negativo o insoddisfacente.
La squadra ha giocato così ___ che ha perso la partita con un ampio margine.
Giocare 'male' indica una prestazione scadente o insufficiente.
Despite his meticulous preparation, the project went badly due to unforeseen factors.
The critic judged the work badly, ignoring the artistic nuances present.
If we manage resources badly, the long-term consequences will be serious.
Read this aloud:
Nonostante gli sforzi, la situazione economica del paese è stata gestita male, portando a una crisi profonda.
Focus: gestita male
قلت:
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Read this aloud:
Il comportamento irresponsabile di alcuni individui ha danneggiato gravemente la reputazione del gruppo, facendolo percepire molto male.
Focus: percepire molto male
قلت:
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Read this aloud:
È fondamentale non fraintendere la direttiva; interpretarla male potrebbe avere ripercussioni significative.
Focus: interpretarla male
قلت:
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/ 54 correct
Perfect score!
محتوى ذو صلة
تعلّمها في السياق
هذه الكلمة بلغات أخرى
عبارات ذات صلة
مزيد من كلمات daily_life
a
A1to, at
abbandonare
B1To leave behind or give up something
abbastanza
B1Sufficiently or quite a bit.
abbigliamento
B1Clothing or attire.
abitare
A1to live, to reside
abitazione
A1A place where one lives; a home.
abito
A2clothing or a suit
abituale
B2Usual, customary, or habitual.
abitudine
B1A settled or regular tendency or practice.
accanto
A2next to or beside
