gran

/grahn/

AdjectiveA1

great?impressive, important

Also:grand?large-scale, magnificent,big?important (e.g., a big idea)

📝 In Action

Es una gran idea.

It's a great idea.

Mi abuelo fue un gran hombre.

My grandfather was a great man.

Tuvimos una gran fiesta anoche.

We had a great party last night.

El Gran Cañón es increíble.

The Grand Canyon is incredible.

Word Connections

Synonyms

grande (big, large, great)
importante (important)
magnífico (magnificent)

Antonyms

pequeño (small, little)
insignificante (insignificant)

Common Collocations

un gran día – a great day
una gran persona – a great person
el gran problema – the big problem

💡 Grammar Points

Always Before a Noun

'Gran' is the short version of 'grande' and it always goes before the thing it describes. For example, 'un gran libro' (a great book).

For Singular Nouns Only

You only use 'gran' with a single person or thing. For plural things, you use 'grandes', like 'grandes libros' (great books).

Same for Masculine and Feminine

'Gran' doesn't change for masculine or feminine things. You say 'un gran hombre' (a great man) and 'una gran mujer' (a great woman).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'Gran' After a Noun

Mistake: "un hombre gran"

Correction: Say 'un gran hombre' or 'un hombre grande'. 'Gran' must come first.

Using 'Gran' for Plurals

Mistake: "dos gran problemas"

Correction: For more than one thing, use 'grandes'. Say 'dos grandes problemas'.

⭐ Usage Tips

'Gran' vs. 'Grande'

Think of 'gran' as meaning 'great' in importance or quality (un gran artista - a great artist). Use 'grande' after the noun to talk more about physical size (un perro grande - a big dog).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: gran

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence is correct?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

grande(big, large, great) - adjective

agrandar(to enlarge, to make bigger) - verb

grandeza(greatness, grandeur) - noun

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.