In 15 Seconds
- Used when a plan or situation results in a failure.
- Combines the verb 'dar' with a reflexive pronoun and 'mal'.
- Perfect for casual stories, warnings, or admitting a mistake.
Meaning
This phrase describes when things go wrong for you or you fail at something. It is like saying you had a bad outcome, got into trouble, or simply didn't succeed in a specific situation.
Key Examples
3 of 6Talking about a failed exam
Eu não estudei nada e me dei mal na prova.
I didn't study at all and I did poorly on the test.
Warning a friend about a bad idea
Cuidado, você vai se dar mal se fizer isso.
Be careful, you're going to get into trouble if you do that.
A business deal that went wrong
A empresa investiu na bolsa e deu-se mal.
The company invested in the stock market and fared badly.
Cultural Background
In Brazil, 'se dar mal' is often linked to the 'Lei de Gerson' (the idea of taking advantage of everything). When someone tries to take an unfair advantage and fails, people say they 'se deram mal' as a form of moral justice. Portuguese speakers in Europe tend to use the enclitic form 'dei-me mal' more frequently in writing and formal speech, whereas Brazilians almost exclusively use 'me dei mal'. In Luanda, you might hear 'dar-se mal' mixed with local slang like 'mambo'. If a 'mambo' (thing/situation) goes wrong, you 'se deu mal com o mambo'. Similar to Portugal, the formal structure is respected, but in casual Maputo speech, 'se dar mal' is used for any failed business venture or 'machimbombo' (bus) delay.
The 'Result' Trick
Whenever you want to say 'it turned out badly for me', use 'me dei mal'.
Pronoun Agreement
Don't forget to change 'se' to 'me', 'te', or 'nos' depending on who you are talking about!
In 15 Seconds
- Used when a plan or situation results in a failure.
- Combines the verb 'dar' with a reflexive pronoun and 'mal'.
- Perfect for casual stories, warnings, or admitting a mistake.
What It Means
Dar-se mal is all about negative outcomes. It describes the moment things flip from good to bad. You use it when a plan fails. You use it when you get caught doing something wrong. It covers everything from a bad grade to a social disaster. Think of it as the opposite of 'having a win.'
How To Use It
You need to conjugate the verb dar. Since it is reflexive, you must use the pronoun se. For example, eu me dei mal means 'I messed up.' If you are talking about a group, use nós nos demos mal. It is very flexible with tenses. You can use it for past mistakes or future warnings. It is a workhorse of daily Portuguese conversation.
When To Use It
Use it when sharing a funny story about a failure. It works perfectly when a friend asks how your exam went. You can use it in business if a project fails. It is great for texting when you realize you forgot your keys. Use it when someone gets caught in a lie. It fits any situation where the result is 'not great.'
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this phrase in extremely tragic situations. Do not use it for a death or a serious illness. It can sound too casual or dismissive there. Also, avoid it in very stiff legal documents. It is a bit too 'colorful' for a formal contract. Stick to não ter sucesso in high-level academic writing. Otherwise, it is fair game for most daily life.
Cultural Background
Portuguese speakers are often very expressive about their misfortunes. We love to share 'perrengues' or daily struggles. Dar-se mal is the punchline to many of these stories. It reflects a culture that values humility and shared laughter over failure. It is not just about losing; it is about the experience. It has been a staple of the language for generations.
Common Variations
You might hear se dar mal in Brazil. In Portugal, the pronoun often comes after: deu-se mal. A stronger version is dar-se muito mal. Sometimes people just say me dei mal! as a standalone exclamation. It is the universal 'oops' for when things go south. You will hear it in soap operas and soccer matches alike.
Usage Notes
The phrase is neutral to informal. It is perfectly safe for daily conversations, social media, and casual workplace chat, but should be replaced with more precise vocabulary in formal writing.
The 'Result' Trick
Whenever you want to say 'it turned out badly for me', use 'me dei mal'.
Pronoun Agreement
Don't forget to change 'se' to 'me', 'te', or 'nos' depending on who you are talking about!
Sound like a Native
Use 'me dei mal' instead of 'eu falhei' to sound much more natural in conversation.
Examples
6Eu não estudei nada e me dei mal na prova.
I didn't study at all and I did poorly on the test.
Common way to express academic failure.
Cuidado, você vai se dar mal se fizer isso.
Be careful, you're going to get into trouble if you do that.
Used here as a cautionary warning.
A empresa investiu na bolsa e deu-se mal.
The company invested in the stock market and fared badly.
Slightly more formal structure (European Portuguese style).
Me dei mal, perdi o ônibus!
I'm in trouble, I missed the bus!
Short, punchy use for a minor daily inconvenience.
Tentei impressionar ela, mas me dei mal.
I tried to impress her, but it went totally wrong.
Self-deprecating humor about a social fail.
Ele mentiu para o chefe e se deu mal.
He lied to the boss and it backfired on him.
Focuses on the consequence of an action.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'dar-se mal' in the past tense.
Eu não estudei para a prova e ________.
The subject is 'Eu', so you must use the pronoun 'me' and the first-person singular past tense 'dei'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Select the correct option:
'Nós' requires the reflexive pronoun 'nos'.
Match the situation to the most likely use of 'dar-se mal'.
Situation: You tried to lie to your boss about being sick, but he saw you at the beach.
This is a classic case of getting into trouble due to a mistake.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Como foi a viagem?' B: 'Péssima! O carro quebrou e a gente ________.'
'A gente' is treated as a third-person singular subject, so 'se deu mal' is correct.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
When to use 'Dar-se Mal'
School
- • Exams
- • Homework
- • Presentations
Social
- • Dates
- • Parties
- • Secrets
Work
- • Interviews
- • Projects
- • Meetings
Practice Bank
4 exercisesEu não estudei para a prova e ________.
The subject is 'Eu', so you must use the pronoun 'me' and the first-person singular past tense 'dei'.
Select the correct option:
'Nós' requires the reflexive pronoun 'nos'.
Situation: You tried to lie to your boss about being sick, but he saw you at the beach.
This is a classic case of getting into trouble due to a mistake.
A: 'Como foi a viagem?' B: 'Péssima! O carro quebrou e a gente ________.'
'A gente' is treated as a third-person singular subject, so 'se deu mal' is correct.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsNo, use 'estar com dor' or 'sentir-se mal'. 'Dar-se mal' is for outcomes.
Both are correct. In Brazil, we often drop the 'Eu' because the 'me dei' already tells us who is speaking.
Not at all. It's informal, but you can use it with friends, family, and even colleagues.
'Dar-se mal' focuses on the person who failed. 'Dar ruim' focuses on the situation itself.
Related Phrases
dar-se bem
contrastTo succeed or get along well.
dar ruim
synonymTo go wrong (slang).
quebrar a cara
similarTo be disappointed or fail after being overconfident.
levar a pior
similarTo get the worst of a situation.
