ir mal
Lemma Details
Translation: to go badly; to not go well; to be doing poorly
Part of Speech: phrase
Etymology: This phrase combines the verb 'ir' (to go), which comes from Latin 'ire', with the adverb 'mal' (badly), from Latin 'male'. The combination creates an idiomatic expression used to describe negative situations or poor performance.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
El negocio va mal desde hace meses.
The business has been doing poorly for months.
Si las cosas siguen yendo mal, tendremos que cambiar de estrategia.
If things continue to go badly, we'll have to change our strategy.
Le va mal en la escuela porque no estudia.
He's doing poorly in school because he doesn't study.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'ir' as 'to go' and 'mal' as 'bad/badly' - literally 'to go badly'
- Imagine a car going down a bumpy road - it's 'going badly'
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
This phrase is commonly used in everyday Spanish conversation to describe situations that aren't going as expected, whether referring to business, personal relationships, health, or other aspects of life.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'ir mal' means 'to go badly' or 'to not go well', 'ir bien' means the opposite: 'to go well' or 'to be doing well'.
Notes: These phrases are direct opposites and are used in the same grammatical constructions.
Mnemonic: Remember 'mal' sounds like 'malfunction' (something not working well), while 'bien' sounds like 'beneficial'.
Explanation: 'Ir mal' refers to how something is progressing or developing, while 'estar mal' describes a current state of being unwell or in bad condition.
Notes: 'Ir mal' is about a negative trajectory, while 'estar mal' is about a negative condition.
Mnemonic: 'Ir' involves movement or progression, while 'estar' is about a current state.