Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
CURSED in Spanish: MALDITO
Maldito · adjective · mahl-DEE-toh
Maldito is the Spanish word for cursed, carrying both a supernatural sense of being under a curse and an everyday intensifier similar to how English speakers use damn or blasted. The word derives from the verb maldecir (to curse), combining mal (bad) with decir (to say). In casual speech, maldito frequently appears as an expressive adjective to convey frustration, while in storytelling and folklore it retains its darker, supernatural connotation.
mahl-DEE-toh
Dicen que esa casa antigua está maldita.
They say that old house is cursed.
Cursed in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for cursed, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| maldito | cursed | mahl-DEE-toh | Default, widely understood |
| maldita | cursed | feminine form | |
| maldecido | cursed | past participle of maldecir |
How Native Speakers Use Maldito
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Supernatural story
La leyenda cuenta que un brujo maldijo el pueblo hace siglos.
Legend says a sorcerer cursed the town centuries ago.
Uses the verb maldijo (preterite of maldecir) in a folklore context.
Expressing frustration
¡Este maldito tráfico me va a hacer llegar tarde!
This cursed traffic is going to make me late!
Shows maldito used as an intensifier expressing annoyance.
Movie description
El protagonista encuentra un objeto maldito en el sótano.
The protagonist finds a cursed object in the basement.
Uses maldito as a supernatural adjective in a horror story setting.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Maldito
Confusing cursado with cursed
Incorrect: El anillo está cursado.
Correct: El anillo está maldito.
Cursado comes from cursar (to take a course or study), not from a curse, so it would nonsensically suggest the ring took a class.
Using maldición as an adjective
Incorrect: Es una casa maldición.
Correct: Es una casa maldita.
Maldición is the noun meaning curse, not an adjective; the correct adjective form maldita must agree in gender with the feminine noun casa.
Lock in Cursed Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Maldito used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using maldito in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Dicen que esa casa antigua está maldita. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
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Common Questions About Cursed in Spanish
- Is 'maldito' a bad word?
- Maldito falls into a mild category of strong language, roughly equivalent to damn or blasted in English, and while it is not considered extremely vulgar, it carries emotional weight and should be used with awareness of the social context.
- What is the difference between maldito and maldecido?
- Maldito functions as both an adjective and the irregular past participle of maldecir, while maldecido is the regularized past participle used less frequently; in practice, maldito is the overwhelmingly preferred form in all contexts.
- How do I say 'to curse someone' in Spanish?
- The verb is maldecir, conjugated irregularly like decir, as in Ella lo maldijo meaning She cursed him, and the noun form for the curse itself is maldición.