Inklingo
← Dictionary

grano

GRAH-noh/ˈɡɾano/

“grano” means “grain” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

grain, seed

Also: kernel, particle
NounmA1
A small pile of shiny, golden wheat grains resting on a light brown surface.

📝 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

pimple, zit

Also: spot
NounmA2
MexicoSpain

📝 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)

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "grano" in Spanish:

grain→kernel→particle→pimple→seed→spot→zit→

✏️ 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
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes directly from the Latin word *granum*, which meant 'seed' or 'grain.' This origin explains both its meaning as a small particle (like a seed) and its meaning as a small lump on the skin (like a small, seed-shaped blemish).

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: granoPortuguese: grão

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

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.'