Menos mal
Example: ¡Menos mal que llegaste a tiempo para la reunión!
Definition
"Menos mal" is a Spanish expression used to convey relief or gratitude that something negative was avoided or that a situation turned out better than expected. For example, "¡Menos mal que llegaste a tiempo para la reunión!" means it's fortunate you arrived on time for the meeting.
Etymology
The phrase "menos mal" literally translates to "less bad" in English, which hints at its meaning of a situation being not as bad as it could have been. It combines "menos" (less) and "mal" (bad), emphasizing a comparative relief. Did you know this expression is often used to soften bad news or emphasize fortunate outcomes in everyday Spanish?
Learn to use this expression actively
"Menos mal" appears in the Vocaplus list "Spanish - General - Modismos y refranes - (A1) - parte 1", containing 112 commonly used expressions.
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