salir mal
Lemma Details
Translation: to go wrong; to turn out badly; to fail; to go badly
Part of Speech: phrase
Etymology: This phrase combines 'salir' (to go out, to leave) from Latin 'salire' (to leap, jump) and 'mal' (badly) from Latin 'male' (badly). The combination creates the idiomatic meaning of something not proceeding as expected or desired. The metaphorical sense suggests something 'coming out' or 'resulting' in a negative way.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 60%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
El experimento salió mal y tuvimos que empezar de nuevo.
The experiment went wrong and we had to start over.
Si algo sale mal, siempre podemos intentarlo otra vez.
If something goes wrong, we can always try again.
La fiesta salió mal porque nadie vino.
The party turned out badly because nobody came.
Me salió mal el examen porque no estudié lo suficiente.
My exam went badly because I didn't study enough.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'salir' as 'to come out' and 'mal' as 'bad' - so something 'comes out bad'
- Imagine a cake that 'comes out' (salir) of the oven looking 'bad' (mal)
- Picture an exit sign (salir) with a red X (mal) over it - the exit strategy failed
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This phrase is commonly used in everyday Spanish to express disappointment when plans or actions don't work out as expected. It's used across all Spanish-speaking countries and is understood by speakers of all ages and backgrounds.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'salir mal' means 'to go wrong' or 'to turn out badly', 'salir bien' means the opposite: 'to go well' or 'to turn out well'.
Notes: These are direct opposites using the same verb structure.
Mnemonic: Mal = bad results, bien = good results
Explanation: 'Salir mal' refers to the outcome or result being bad, while 'ir mal' describes something that is currently progressing poorly.
This word:
La receta salió mal; la torta no se levantó.
The recipe turned out badly; the cake didn't rise.
Notes: 'Salir mal' focuses on the end result, while 'ir mal' focuses on the current state or progress.
Mnemonic: 'Salir mal' = bad result (past/completed), 'ir mal' = bad progress (ongoing)