Inklingo
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grano

/GRAH-noh/

grain

A small pile of shiny, golden wheat grains resting on a light brown surface.

The word grano means 'grain', referring to agricultural products like wheat or rice.

grano(noun)

mA1

grain

?

agricultural product, e.g., wheat, rice

,

seed

?

coffee bean, pepper kernel

Also:

kernel

?

of corn or another plant

,

particle

?

a small piece of something

📝 In Action

El agricultor cosechó mucho grano este año.

A1

The farmer harvested a lot of grain this year.

Quiero un café hecho con granos enteros.

A2

I want a coffee made with whole beans.

Solo queda un grano de arena en el reloj.

B1

There is only one grain of sand left in the clock.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • semilla (seed)
  • cereal (cereal/grain)

Common Collocations

  • grano de café – coffee bean
  • grano de arroz – grain of rice

Idioms & Expressions

  • poner su grano de arena – to put in one's two cents worth / to contribute

💡 Grammar Points

Always Masculine

Even though it refers to small, countable items like seeds, 'grano' is always a masculine noun ('el grano').

⭐ Usage Tips

Figurative Use

Use 'grano' when talking about a very small amount of something abstract, like 'un grano de paciencia' (a grain of patience).

In a different context, grano is also used to mean 'pimple' or a skin blemish.

grano(noun)

mA2

pimple

?

skin blemish

,

zit

?

informal skin blemish

Also:

spot

?

UK English term for a skin blemish

📝 In Action

No te toques el grano, empeorará.

A2

Don't touch the pimple, it will get worse.

A mi hermano le salieron muchos granos en la frente.

B1

My brother got a lot of spots/pimples on his forehead.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • espinilla (blackhead/pimple)
  • acné (acne)

❌ Common Pitfalls

Don't confuse with 'mancha'

Mistake: "Using 'mancha' to mean pimple."

Correction: 'Mancha' means stain or discoloration (like a coffee stain). Use 'grano' or 'espinilla' for a raised blemish.

⭐ Usage Tips

Talking about Skin

When talking about skin issues, 'grano' is the most common, simple word for a single blemish.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: grano

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'grano' to mean 'pimple'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

granero(granary / barn) - noun
granulado(granulated / grainy) - adjective
desgranar(to shell / to thresh (remove grains)) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'grano' only used for wheat and rice?

No. While it often refers to cereal grains, you can use 'grano' for any small, hard seed or particle, like 'grano de café' (coffee bean) or 'grano de pimienta' (peppercorn).

How do I distinguish between the two main meanings of 'grano'?

Context is key! If you are talking about food, agriculture, or measurement, it means 'grain/seed.' If you are talking about someone's face or skin, it means 'pimple/spot.'