largo
/LAR-go/
long
As an adjective, largo means 'long,' describing something with great length or dimension. (El camino es largo - The road is long.)
largo(Adjective)
long
?referring to distance, dimension, or duration
generous
?e.g., a generous serving, a wide-ranging look
📝 In Action
El vestido es demasiado largo para mí.
A1The dress is too long for me.
Fue un invierno largo y frío.
A2It was a long and cold winter.
Me sirvió una porción muy larga de pastel.
B2He served me a very generous portion of cake.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the Thing It Describes
'Largo' changes to match the gender and number of the noun it describes. Use 'largo' for masculine things (un camino largo), 'larga' for feminine things (una calle larga), 'largos' for masculine plural (caminos largos), and 'largas' for feminine plural (calles largas).
❌ Common Pitfalls
False Friend Alert: 'largo' is NOT 'large'
Mistake: "Quiero una pizza largo. (Trying to say 'I want a large pizza.')"
Correction: This is a very common mix-up! 'Largo' means long, not large. To say 'large' or 'big', you must use the word 'grande'. Correct: 'Quiero una pizza grande'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Time, Not Just Space
You can use 'largo' for more than just physical length. It's very common to describe periods of time, like 'una larga espera' (a long wait) or 'un largo día' (a long day).
As a noun, largo means 'length,' referring to the measurement of something from end to end.
largo(Noun)
length
?the measurement of something from end to end
long shot
?in photography or film
📝 In Action
¿Cuál es el largo de la piscina?
B1What is the length of the pool?
La mesa mide dos metros de largo por uno de ancho.
B1The table measures two meters in length by one in width.
⭐ Usage Tips
Paired with 'de'
When stating a measurement, you'll almost always see this noun used in the phrase 'de largo'. For example, 'La alfombra tiene tres metros de largo' (The rug is three meters long).
The phrase a lo largo de means 'along,' indicating movement or placement following the entire length of something. (Caminamos a lo largo del río - We walked along the river.)
largo(Prepositional Phrase)
along
?following the length of something, like a road or coast
throughout
?over the course of a period of time
📝 In Action
Paseamos a lo largo de la playa al atardecer.
B1We walked along the beach at sunset.
A lo largo de su carrera, ganó muchos premios.
B2Throughout his career, he won many awards.
Encontrarás varios restaurantes a lo largo de esta calle.
B1You will find several restaurants along this street.
💡 Grammar Points
The Full Phrase: 'a lo largo de'
This is a fixed phrase. You need all three parts—'a', 'lo', 'largo', and 'de'—for it to mean 'along' or 'throughout'. Think of them as a single unit.
⭐ Usage Tips
For Journeys in Space and Time
This phrase is perfect for describing a journey. It can be a physical one ('a lo largo del río' - along the river) or a journey through time ('a lo largo del día' - throughout the day).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: largo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'largo'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I say 'una persona larga' for a tall person?
Great question! In Spanish, 'largo' describes the length of objects or the duration of time, not a person's height. For 'tall', you always use the word 'alto' or 'alta'. Calling a person 'largo' would sound very strange, like calling them 'a long person'.
What's the difference between 'largo' and 'longitud'?
'Largo' can be an adjective ('a long road') or a noun ('the length'). 'Longitud' is only a noun for 'length'. They are often interchangeable when used as nouns ('el largo de la mesa' / 'la longitud de la mesa'), but 'longitud' can sound a bit more technical or formal.