gran
“gran” means “great” in Spanish (impressive, important).
great
Also: grand, big
📝 In Action
Es una gran idea.
A1It's a great idea.
Mi abuelo fue un gran hombre.
A2My grandfather was a great man.
Tuvimos una gran fiesta anoche.
A2We had a great party last night.
El Gran Cañón es increíble.
B1The Grand Canyon is incredible.
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Quick Quiz: gran
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence is correct?
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👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'grandis', meaning 'big, great, full-grown'. Over time, Spanish developed a short form, 'gran', to be used before nouns.
First recorded: Used since the early days of Spanish.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'gran' and 'grande'?
They both come from the same word! Use 'gran' *before* a single noun to mean 'great' or 'impressive' (un gran día). Use 'grande' *after* a noun, usually to talk about physical size (un perro grande). For plural things, you always use 'grandes' (grandes ideas).
Can I say 'un grande hombre'?
Yes, you can, but it changes the meaning slightly. 'Un gran hombre' means 'a great man' (important, admirable). 'Un hombre grande' means 'a large man' (physically big). The position of the word changes its flavor.