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bravo

BRAH-voh/ˈbɾaβo/

angry, mad

Also: furious
Mexico and Central America
A young child with a furrowed brow, red face, and clenched fists, clearly showing an angry expression.

📝 In Action

Mi jefe estaba bravo porque llegué tarde a la reunión.

A2

My boss was angry because I arrived late to the meeting.

¡No te pongas brava por una cosa tan pequeña!

B1

Don't get mad over such a small thing!

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • estar bravo/a – to be angry
  • ponerse bravo/a – to get angry

wild, rough

Also: fierce, untamed
A powerful, dark brown bull with large horns standing defiantly in a rugged, overgrown field, symbolizing wildness and being untamed.

📝 In Action

Tuvimos que cruzar el río bravo, lleno de rocas y mucha corriente.

B2

We had to cross the wild river, full of rocks and a strong current.

Cuidado con ese perro, es muy bravo y muerde.

B1

Be careful with that dog, it is very fierce/aggressive and bites.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • mar bravo – rough sea
  • animal bravo – wild/fierce animal

brave

Also: valiant
AdjectivemC1formal
A small, determined knight holding a shield and standing confidently in front of a slightly larger, non-threatening dragon.

📝 In Action

El soldado bravo se lanzó a la batalla sin miedo.

C1

The brave soldier threw himself into the battle without fear.

Fue un acto muy bravo arriesgar su vida por salvar al niño.

C2

It was a very brave act to risk his life to save the child.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • valiente (brave)
  • osado (daring)

Antonyms

Bravo!

Also: Well done!
Two hands vigorously clapping together in mid-air, surrounded by bright starbursts, signifying applause and approval.

📝 In Action

¡Bravo! La orquesta tocó maravillosamente.

A1

Bravo! The orchestra played wonderfully.

Cuando terminó su discurso, todo el público gritó: '¡Bravo, bravo!'

A2

When he finished his speech, the entire audience shouted: 'Bravo, bravo!'

Word Connections

Synonyms

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: bravo

Question 1 of 2

Which meaning of 'bravo' is used to describe a rough sea?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
bravura(bravery, spirit) — Noun
bravuconada(bluster, swagger) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Traced back to the Late Latin word *barbarus* (meaning 'barbarous' or 'savage'). Over time, its meaning evolved from 'wild/savage' (Definition 2) to include 'fierce/angry' (Definition 1) and 'brave' (Definition 3). The exclamation 'Bravo!' (Definition 4) came into Spanish from Italian, where it was originally used to mean 'skillful' or 'excellent.'

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: bravoFrench: brave

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Frequently Asked Questions

How is 'bravo' different from 'valiente'?

'Valiente' is the most common and standard way to say 'brave' or 'courageous' in everyday Spanish. 'Bravo' meaning 'brave' is more formal or old-fashioned. However, 'bravo' is the standard word for 'angry' or 'fierce/wild' (like an animal).

Does 'bravo' change its ending?

Yes, when 'bravo' is used as an adjective (meaning angry, wild, or brave), it changes to match the gender and number of the noun (bravo, brava, bravos, bravas). When it is used as an exclamation ('¡Bravo!'), it stays the same.