What does the Greek root mal mean?

The Greek root "mal" actually doesn't exist in its own right. There are a couple of possible misunderstandings:

1. You might be thinking of the Greek root "mal-," which means "bad," "evil," or "ill." This prefix appears in many English words like "malicious," "malady," "malfunction," and "malcontent."

2. The similar-sounding "mal-" in words like "malaria" and "malnutrition" is actually a Latin prefix meaning "bad" or "ill." It's not directly related to the Greek root "mal-."

So, while "mal" itself isn't a Greek root, the similar "mal-" is a common prefix in English words derived from Greek and Latin, carrying the meaning of "bad" or "ill."