monumental
“monumental” means “monumental” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
monumental
Also: massive, grand
📝 In Action
La ciudad de Sevilla tiene un patrimonio monumental increíble.
B1The city of Seville has an incredible monumental heritage.
Vimos una estatua monumental en el centro de la plaza.
B1We saw a massive statue in the center of the square.
Ese edificio es una obra monumental de la arquitectura moderna.
B2That building is a monumental work of modern architecture.
huge
Also: massive, colossal
📝 In Action
He cometido un error monumental en el trabajo.
B1I've made a huge mistake at work.
Había un atasco monumental en la autopista.
B1There was a massive traffic jam on the highway.
Se llevaron un enfado monumental cuando supieron la verdad.
B2They got massively angry when they found out the truth.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: monumental
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the most common way to say 'a massive traffic jam'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'monumentalis,' which comes from 'monumentum.' The root word originally meant something that serves as a reminder or a memorial.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'monumental' only for buildings?
No! While it's used for buildings (like a monumental church), it's very commonly used figuratively to mean 'huge' or 'incredible' for abstract things like mistakes, traffic, or anger.
How do I make it plural?
Just add -es to the end: 'monumentales'. For example: 'errores monumentales' (huge mistakes).
Is it a formal word?
It depends. When describing art or history, it's neutral/formal. When used to describe a 'massive' headache or traffic jam, it's very common in casual, everyday conversation.