peor

Peor is a Spanish adjective and adverb meaning "worse." It is the comparative form of malo and is used to indicate that something is of lower quality, a more undesirable condition, or less favorable than another thing. Peor can modify nouns (una noticia peor, una situación peor) or verbs and clauses as an adverb (le fue peor, trabajó peor).

Etymology and range of use: Peor derives from Latin peior, the comparative of malus (bad). In modern Spanish, it functions both as a comparative and as part of the superlative construction. The standard way to express the absolute worst is with the definite article: el peor (masc), la peor (fem). In plural form, it becomes peores (los peores, las peores).

Grammar and forms: Singular forms use peor for both genders: el día peor, la situación peor. Plural uses peores: los días peores, las situaciones peores. As an adverb, it can appear in phrases such as "peor que" to introduce a comparison, or as "peor aún" to mean "even worse."

Usage notes: Peor is typically preferred over phrases like "más malo" in everyday speech. It coexists with mejor as the opposite pair for expressing relative quality. Common expressions include "peor que nunca" (worse than ever), "es la peor parte" (the worst part), and "de lo peor" (out of the worst).

See also: mejor, malo, peor, peores, de lo peor.