* Evil: This is the most common meaning. For example, "un mal terrible" translates to "a terrible evil."
* Illness: This meaning is often used in the context of physical or mental health. For example, "être malade" translates to "to be ill."
* Bad: This meaning can be used to describe something that is unpleasant or undesirable. For example, "un malentendu" translates to "a misunderstanding."
The best way to determine the meaning of "mal" in English is to look at the surrounding words and phrases.