malvado
adjectiveCEFR B2
What does “malvado” mean in English?
wicked, evil — morally bad or deliberately harmful
wicked, evil — morally bad or deliberately harmful (personaje malvado, plan malvado)
Example sentences
El personaje malvado dominaba toda la historia.
The wicked character dominated the whole story.
Es una persona malvada que daña a los demás.
She is a wicked person who harms others.
El plan del malvado fue desarticulado a tiempo.
The wicked man's plan was foiled in time.
How to use it
'Malvado/a' means wicked or villainous — a strong term for moral evil. Used with ser. More emphatic than 'malo' (bad) and often used in narratives, fairy tales, and dramatic contexts. Common in compound phrases like 'el malvado villano'.
Common mistake
Don't substitute 'malo' for 'malvado' when you mean truly wicked — 'malo' is mild (bad/naughty), 'malvado' implies genuine moral evil.