verb
maldecir
curse
Decir cosas malas o desear daño a una persona o cosa.
Definition & meaning
- To curse someone or something: to wish evil or harm upon them, sometimes by invoking a supernatural power.
- To curse or condemn: to express anger or frustration about someone or something.
Grammar & Word origin
Maldecir is a verb formed from mal (“badly”) and decir (“to say”). It comes from Latin maledicere, “to speak ill of” or “to curse.”
It is irregular: its past participle is maldito (“cursed”), and its future form is maldeciré.
Synonyms & antonyms
- bendecir — “to bless”; the opposite of placing a curse on someone or something.
- condenar — “to condemn”; expresses strong disapproval but does not necessarily involve a curse.
- blasfemar — “to blaspheme”; refers specifically to speaking irreverently about sacred things.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Ellos maldijeron en voz baja durante la discusión.verb
They cursed in a low voice during the discussion.
Ellos maldijeron en voz baja después del error.verb
They cursed quietly after the mistake.
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