Mau
Example: O gato está mau porque não comeu hoje.
Definition
"Mau" is an adjective in Portuguese used to describe someone or something that is bad, ill, or unwell, as in the example phrase 'O gato está mau porque não comeu hoje,' meaning the cat is unwell because it did not eat today.
Etymology
The word "mau" comes from Latin 'malus,' which means bad or evil. It has been used in Portuguese for centuries to describe negative qualities or states, especially regarding health or behavior. Did you know? Although similar in spelling to 'mal,' "mau" is specifically used as an adjective, while 'mal' functions as an adverb.
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"Mau" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 104 commonly used words.
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