grande
“grande” means “big” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
big, large
Also: tall, spacious
📝 In Action
Mi casa es muy grande.
A1My house is very big.
Necesito una talla más grande, por favor.
A1I need a larger size, please.
Es un hombre alto y grande.
A2He is a tall and big man.
great, grand
Also: major
📝 In Action
Gaudí fue un gran arquitecto.
A2Gaudí was a great architect.
Fue una gran sorpresa para todos.
B1It was a great surprise for everyone.
Tenemos grandes planes para el futuro.
B1We have big/great plans for the future.
grown-up, adult
Also: older
📝 In Action
Cuando sea grande, quiero ser médico.
B1When I'm grown-up, I want to be a doctor.
Mi hermano grande vive en otra ciudad.
A2My older brother lives in another city.
Ya eres grande para creer en fantasmas.
B1You're too old/grown-up to believe in ghosts.
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Quick Quiz: grande
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly says 'She is a great artist'?
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👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word 'grandis', which meant 'large, great, full, or abundant.' It has kept its core meaning for over two thousand years!
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most important difference between 'grande' and 'gran'?
It's all about meaning and position. 'Grande' comes after a noun and means 'big' in size (una casa grande). 'Gran' comes before a singular noun and means 'great' in quality (un gran líder).
Can I say 'grandes' before a noun?
Yes, you can! For plural things, you always use 'grandes', never 'granes'. When you put it before the noun, like 'grandes ideas' (great ideas), it usually means 'great'. When you put it after, 'casas grandes' (big houses), it usually means 'big'.
How do I say 'bigger' or 'biggest'?
To say 'bigger', you use 'más grande'. For example, 'Mi coche es más grande que el tuyo' (My car is bigger than yours). To say 'biggest', you use 'el/la más grande'. For example, 'Es el edificio más grande de la ciudad' (It's the biggest building in the city).