male Italian · revision 37601

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=1158, Travale testimonies|origins=la malus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈma.le/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''male''' (comparative peggio, superlative malissimo)^(Wiktionary)

+ As a noun it is masculine, plural ''mali''.^(Wiktionary)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ Before another word it is often shortened to ''mal''.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|male|t=badly]], the adverb of [[m|la|malus|t=bad]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The noun “evil; pain, illness” is the same adverb used as a noun, a change that happened in all Romance languages.^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) Devoto–Oli, Gabrielli and the GDLI also see Latin [[m|la|malum|t=evil]] behind the noun, crossed with the adverb, and Körting thought either source possible.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(GDLI|9, 519)^(Körting 1907)

+

+ The word is [[fr|mal]], [[oc|mal]], [[ca|mal]], [[es|mal]], [[pt|mal]], [[sc|male]], [[fur|mal]], [[rm|miel]] and [[dlm|mul]]: Romanian is the only exception.^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)^(DEI|2328) The Latin adjective may go back to [[itc-pro|*malos]] and a PIE ⟨*mol-o-⟩ “bad”, with Oscan ⟨mallom⟩, [[sga|mell|t=destruction]], [[grc|μέλεος|tr=méleos|t=idle, unhappy]] and [[lt|mẽlas|t=lie]] as possible cognates, but de Vaan finds this uncertain because the words are isolated in their branches.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Latin already formed compounds with the adverb: [[m|la|maledīcō|t=to speak ill of]] gave [[maledire]], with its religious sense from Church Latin, and [[m|la|maleficus|t=wicked]] gave [[malefico]].^(DELI 1999) Italian made many more, such as [[malcontento]], [[maldestro]] and [[malconcio]], often written separately at first;^(DELI 1999) [[malinteso]] copies [[fr|malentendu]].^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is the Tuscan testimonies of Travale of 1158, with the sense “in a way that is not right or good”.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) The noun follows in the 13th century: Giacomo da Lentini, before 1250, uses it for physical or moral suffering.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ By the end of the 13th century the noun had its main senses: “what is wicked” and “illness” in Guittone d'Arezzo, and “harm, misfortune” and “what is useless” in Brunetto Latini.^(DELI 1999) Tuscan proverbs pair the adverb and the noun: “Chi mal fa, male aspetta” (who does evil should expect evil).^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ Nocentini notes how many names Italian has for epilepsy: ''brutto male'', ''mal caduco'', ''mal maestro'', ''male benedetto''; the pejorative ''malaccio'' is a euphemism for cancer.^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935) Many illnesses are named with ''mal di'' (''mal di mare'' “seasickness”, ''mal di testa'' “headache”).^(Wiktionary)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) The use of ''male'' as an adjective in ''non è male'' “not bad (looking)” was noted as French in 1950.^(DELI 1999) English used ''mal'' for an illness from 1732, after French and Italian.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1158 – The testimonies of Travale use ''male'' “badly”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1250 – Giacomo da Lentini uses the noun for suffering.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 13th century – ''Malore'' “sudden illness” is recorded.^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * Before 1294 – Guittone d'Arezzo uses the noun for “evil” and “illness”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1313–1319 – Dante uses the adverb for “unsatisfactorily, to one's disadvantage”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 17th century – ''Permaloso'' “touchy” is formed from ''aversene per male''.^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * 1732 – English ''mal'' “illness” is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1950 – ''Non è male'' “not bad” is noted as a French usage.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|badly]], wrongly, in a way that is not right or proper: ''Si è comportato male con sua sorella.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # Poorly, unsatisfactorily: ''Stanotte ho dormito male.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Rudely, harshly: ''ha risposto male al professore''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # In poor health or spirits, in ''stare male'' and ''sentirsi male''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # Unfavourably, with ill will, as in ''parlare male di qualcuno''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # Imperfectly, with verbs of perception or working: ''ci sento male da un orecchio''.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ # As an exclamation, “that's bad!”.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|evil]], what is morally wrong: ''il bene e il male''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # [[m|en|harm]], damage, misfortune: ''augurare del male a qualcuno''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # [[m|en|pain]], ache: ''mal di denti''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|illness]], disease: ''soffre di un male raro''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Moral suffering: ''mal d’amore''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[malaccio]]

+ * [[malore]]

+ * [[ammalare]]

+ * [[permaloso]]

+ * [[malanno]]

+ * [[malamente]]

+ * [[malconcio]]

+ * [[malcontento]]

+ * [[maldestro]]

+ * [[malandato]]

+ * [[malaugurato]]

+ * [[malaccorto]]

+ * [[malagevole]]

+ * [[maldicente]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[malfare]]

+ * [[malo]]

+ * [[malvagio]]

+ * [[maledire]]

+ * [[malefico]]

+ * [[la|malus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Everyday phrases include ''meno male'' “thank goodness”, ''non c'è male'' “not too bad”, ''andare a male'' “to go off” (of food), ''farsi male'' “to hurt oneself” and ''niente male'' “not bad at all”.^(Wiktionary)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}