Tener mala pata
SIGNIFICADO – MEANING
= Tener mala suerte
= to be unlucky, to have bad luck.
VOCABULARIO – VOCABULARY
Tener = to have
Mala = bad
Pata = an animal’s foot/paw
Literally it means to have a bad foot!
If we think about it, sometimes a rabbit’s foot is used as an amulet or good luck charm (often hung around the neck).
So we could say that having a bad foot would be considered Unlucky.
!Qué mala pata! = ¡Que mala suerte!
What bad luck!
EJEMPLOS – EXAMPLES
- ¡Tengo mala pata, pensé que hoy no llovería!
I’m so unlucky. I thought it wouldn’t rain today! - Esta mañana tuve mala pata porque perdí el bus.
This morning I was unlucky because I missed the bus. - Tengo mala pata con ese profesor porque siempre pide la tarea cuando no la he hecho.
I’m unlucky with that teacher because he always asks for my homework when I haven’t done it.
See some more examples of Tener Mala Pata with one of our cartoons.
Cuéntamos una experiencia de cuando tuviste mala pata.