Spanish
Vocab Builder for commonly used words in Spanish.
tener los ojos marrones
The phrase 'tener los ojos marrones' in Spanish translates to 'have brown eyes' in English. This phrase is often used to describe the physical appearance of a person specifically their eye color. It is composed of 'tener' which means 'to have', 'los ojos' meaning 'the eyes', and 'marrones' meaning 'brown'. Overall, if you want to describe someone as having brown eyes in Spanish, you would say 'tiene los ojos marrones'.
tener los ojos negros
The Spanish phrase 'tener los ojos negros' translates to 'have black eyes' in English. It's usually used to describe someone's eye color, indicating that the person has dark, black eyes. This is an example of how in Spanish, descriptions often follow the noun they are describing, which might be different from English sentence structures.
tener los ojos oscuros
The Spanish phrase 'tener los ojos oscuros' translates to 'have dark eyes' in English. It's a way to describe someone's physical appearance specifically referring to the color of their eyes. Just like in English, in Spanish, it is common to describe a person's features in this way. So, if you're learning Spanish and want to talk about someone's dark eyes, 'tener los ojos oscuros' is the phrase you would use.
tener los ojos pequeños
The phrase 'tener los ojos pequeños' is Spanish for 'have small eyes'. This phase may be utilized when describing a physical attribute about a person in Spanish.
tener los ojos verdes
The Spanish phrase 'tener los ojos verdes' translates to 'have green eyes' in English. It's a descriptive phrase commonly used in Spanish to describe someone's physical appearance specifically related to eye color. In a sentence, it could be used like 'Ella tiene los ojos verdes' which would translate to 'She has green eyes'. The verb 'tener' means 'to have' in English, 'los ojos' translates to 'the eyes', and 'verdes' is an adjective meaning 'green'. Therefore, combined, 'tener los ojos verdes' literally translates to 'to have the eyes green' but is understood as 'have green eyes' in proper English.
tener mal aspecto
The Spanish phrase 'tener mal aspecto' translates to 'look bad' in English. This phrase is generally used in the context of someone or something appearing unwell, unhealthy, or in poor condition. It is an informal way to describe a disagreeable appearance and can be used both literally and figuratively. Just like in English, this phrase can be used to describe people, objects, or situations, depending on the context.
tener mal carácter
The Spanish phrase 'tener mal carácter' is used to describe a person who typically has a bad or unpleasant disposition or behavior. It is equivalent to the English phrase 'to have a bad character'. This phrase can refer to being easily angered, uncooperative or generally disagreeable in nature.
tener mal color
The Spanish phrase 'tener mal color' can be translated into English as 'having a bad color'. This phrase is often used to refer to someone who looks pale, sickly, or otherwise unwell.
tener mal estilo
The Spanish phrase 'tener mal estilo' translates to 'have bad style' in English. This phrase is indicative of an individual who possesses unsatisfactory, unappealing, or unattractive fashion sense or style. It is generally used as a critique or observation of someone's appearance, particularly their clothing or outfit. This phrase can also be used metaphorically, to denote a person's overall demeanor, way of doing things, or behavior that is considered unappealing or lacking refinement.
tener mal figura
The Spanish phrase 'tener mal figura' translates to 'have a bad figure' in English. It is typically used in Spanish language to refer to someone who, in the speaker's opinion, does not have good body shape or physical condition. However, like many phrases, its usage can be subjective and relies heavily on personal opinion.
tener mal presencia
The term 'tener mal presencia' in Spanish translates to 'having a bad presence' in English. This phrase is typically used to describe someone who may have a negative or off-putting aura about them. This could be due to their behavior, disposition, or even their physical appearance. It infers that the person tends to leave an unfavorable impression on others.
tener mal tipo
The Spanish phrase 'tener mal tipo' does not directly translate to 'having bad guy' in English. It is an idiomatic expression meaning to look or feel unwell or to give a bad impression. It is often used when someone seems sick or unhealthy. It may also indicate someone who does not make a good impression due to their actions or behaviors. Despite its literal translation, this phrase is not used to describe a 'bad guy' or villain.
tener mala acústica
The Spanish phrase 'tener mala acústica' translates to 'having bad acoustics' in English. This can refer to an environment or space where sound does not travel well, causing poor quality of sound. It is often used in relation to music venues, theaters, or other places where sound quality is important for the performance or event. For example, in a room with bad acoustics, you may have difficulty hearing someone speaking, or music may sound distorted or unclear.
Example sentences with tener mala acústica →tener mala cara
'Tener mala cara' is a colloquial Spanish phrase that literally translates to 'having a bad face'. However, the phrase does not refer to someone's physical appearance in a negative sense. It is often used to denote that someone is looking unwell or ill. If a person is 'teniendo mala cara', it means that this person appears to be in a bad mood, or seems to be feeling ill or unhealthy.
tener mala letra
The Spanish phrase 'tener mala letra' directly translates to 'to have bad handwriting' in English. This is typically used to describe someone whose handwriting is difficult to read or understand due to its poor quality or style.
tener mala nota
The Spanish phrase 'tener mala nota' translates to 'to have a bad note' in English. In this context, it is usually used to reflect someone's poor performance in an evaluation, grading or scoring system, most commonly in an academic or educational setting. It is synonymous with doing poorly or underachieving in a said task or examination.
tener mala pinta
The Spanish phrase 'tener mala pinta' translates to 'it looks bad' in English. It is often used in Spain to express dissatisfaction or concern about the appearance or projections of something or someone. Although it does not have a favorable tone, it is commonly used in colloquial language. It does not mean 'to have bad paint', as might be deduced from a literal translation.
tener mala salud
The Spanish phrase 'tener mala salud' translates to 'having bad health' in English. This phrase is used to express the current condition of someone's health which is not in good shape. The verb 'tener' means 'to have', 'mala' means 'bad' and salud stands for 'health'. Therefore, when combined together, the phrase stands for the English expression 'having bad health'.
Example sentences with tener mala salud →tener mala suerte
The Spanish term 'tener mala suerte' translates to 'have bad luck' in English. This is a common colloquial phrase used to express the experience of unfavourable or negative outcomes, often due to circumstances outside one's control, such as in games of chance or everyday life situations. It is a verb phrase and 'tener' is the verb 'to have' while 'mala suerte' is the noun phrase for 'bad luck'. This is often used in conversational Spanish.
Example sentences with tener mala suerte →tener malas referencias
The Spanish phrase 'tener malas referencias' translates to 'having bad references' in English. It is often used in professional contexts, such as when applying for a job. If someone has 'malas referencias', it means they have bad remarks or reviews from previous employers or colleagues. It's not a literal reference but rather a personal, job-related remark or critique.
tener malestar
The Spanish phrase 'tener malestar' translates to 'have discomfort' in English. This phrase is used when someone is experiencing uneasiness, discomfort, or a general state of illness. It may refer to physical discomfort, such as the feeling when one is sick or has a minor injury, or psychological discomfort, such as the unease experienced in a stressful situation. The verb 'tener' means 'to have' and 'malestar' symbolizes discomfort, unease or malaise.
Example sentences with tener malestar →tener malos acabados
'Tener malos acabados' is a Spanish phrase that directly translates to 'have bad finishes' in English. It's used to express the quality of something, generally referring to the condition or finishing touches of a product, object, project, or task, indicating that it is poor, bad, or not up to standard.
tener malos modales
The Spanish phrase 'tener malos modales' translates to 'having bad manners' in English. This generally refers to a person's negative behavior, which is usually not considered socially acceptable or polite. It can be used to describe rudeness, lack of etiquette, or impolite actions in both formal and informal contexts.
Example sentences with tener malos modales →tener mano izquierda
'Tener mano izquierda' does not literally translate to 'left hand' in English. It is a Spanish idiom used to describe someone's skill or tact in handling delicate or difficult situations. It could be roughly equivalent to saying someone has a 'soft touch' or a 'gentle hand' while dealing with matters that require finesse and careful handling.
Example sentences with tener mano izquierda →tener mareos
The Spanish phrase 'tener mareos' translates to 'having dizziness' in English. It's a common expression used when one is feeling light-headed or experiencing a sense of spinning, commonly associated with conditions like vertigo. This phrase can be used in various contexts, especially in healthcare or when describing one's physical or health condition. It's important to note that 'tener' is a verb that means 'to have', and 'mareos' is a noun that means 'dizziness'.
Example sentences with tener mareos →tener miedo
The Spanish term 'tener miedo' translates directly to 'have fear' in English. It is usually used to express the state of being scared or fearful, similar to how in English one might say 'I am afraid' or 'I am scared'. The phrase 'tener miedo' embodies not just the emotion, but also the experience of fear.
tener modales
The Spanish phrase 'tener modales' translates into English as 'have manners'. This phrase refers to the act of showing polite behavior and consideration towards others in social situations. Manners are generally the rules and standards of expected conduct within a culture, helping to facilitate social interaction. So when one is said to 'tener modales', they are behaving in a pleasant and respectful manner according to social customs and norms.
Example sentences with tener modales →tener molestias
The Spanish phrase 'tener molestias' translates to 'have discomfort' in English. It is used to describe a state of physical unease, generally caused by an illness or a condition. In a sentence, it can be used as 'Estoy teniendo molestias en el estómago' which means 'I am having discomfort in my stomach'. This phrase 'tener molestias' is made up of the verb 'tener' (to have) and the noun 'molestias' (discomforts).
Example sentences with tener molestias →tener moral
'Tener moral' in Spanish translates to 'having morality' in English. It pertains to the principles, standards, or quality of being morally upright or virtuous. These are values or virtues that one possesses to differentiate between right and wrong, forming the basis of right conduct. This phrase is often used in the context of behaving or conducting oneself in a manner that is ethically acceptable or commendable.
tener mucho carácter
The Spanish phrase 'tener mucho carácter' translates to 'having a lot of character' in English. This term refers to a person having distinct traits that make them unique. These characteristics may be a combination of various factors including personality, courage, integrity, and determination. 'Tener mucho carácter' implies that a person is strong-willed and has a strong personality.