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Is malaĉa = bona or malaĉa = malbonega

by Demian, August 7, 2012

Messages: 10

Language: English

Demian (User's profile) August 7, 2012, 2:47:52 AM

It just occurred to me if I were to encounter a word like, say "malaĉa", how should I read it? Is it the opposite of "aĉa" and therefore "bona" or is it "malbonega" (because of "mal" + "aĉ" )?

Michaelmoore (User's profile) August 7, 2012, 3:16:30 AM

Demian:It just occurred to me if I were to encounter a word like, say "malaĉa", how should I read it? Is it the opposite of "aĉa" and therefore "bona" or is it "malbonega" (because of "mal" + "aĉ" )?
"Malaĉa" would mean "bona." "Mal-" by itself carries no negative connotations -- it merely signifies the opposite. Note that "male" doesn't mean "poorly" or "badly" but rather "on the contrary." If you're looking for a different word for "malbonega," you could use "aĉega", or possible "mavaĉa" or "mavega."

darkweasel (User's profile) August 7, 2012, 9:30:01 AM

Michaelmoore:"mavaĉa" or "mavega."
shoko.gif

erinja (User's profile) August 7, 2012, 10:49:54 AM

If someone said "mavaĉa" or "mavega" to me, I'd suppose that they have a speech impediment. I wouldn't understand it.

sudanglo (User's profile) August 7, 2012, 11:15:37 AM

Mala isn't a quality, or mali an action or malo a thing, about which you might express disapproval

Therefore any analysis along the lines applicable to ruĝaĉa, pluvaĉo, faraĉi k.s. is inappropriate.

Exception: perhaps if editing a dictionary of antonyms, you might want to remove the mal-aĉoj the unsatisfactory maloj.

kvarelcentenorvega (User's profile) August 18, 2020, 12:42:47 AM

``malaĉa`` estas malfia vorto

Edveno (User's profile) October 5, 2020, 6:42:22 AM

Malaĉa can only be read as the opposite of aĉa.

sergejm (User's profile) October 5, 2020, 6:10:48 PM

Rusaj infanoj ŝatas kuiri kaĉon malaĉan - kaĉo el sablo.

Altebrilas (User's profile) October 16, 2020, 10:14:49 AM

If an esperantist calls you "malkreteno" will you feel it as a compliment or as an insult?

Amadeo (User's profile) March 28, 2021, 10:08:59 AM

Altebrilas:If an esperantist calls you "malkreteno" will you feel it as a compliment or as an insult?
It depends on a context, their voice and intention. I think that it can be sarcastic but also it can be just a joke, malidioto okulumo.gif

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