Inklingo

How to Say "enormous" in Spanish

English → Spanish

enorme

eh-NOR-meh/eˈnoɾme/

AdjectiveA1General
Use 'enorme' when referring to the general size or quantity of something, like buildings, spaces, or amounts.
A massive gray elephant standing next to a minuscule brown mouse on a green field, visually emphasizing the concept of enormous size.

Examples

El edificio es enorme.

The building is enormous.

El estadio de fútbol es absolutamente enorme.

The soccer stadium is absolutely enormous.

Tuvimos una diferencia enorme en opiniones sobre la película.

We had a huge difference in opinions about the movie.

Ella siente una presión enorme por terminar el proyecto a tiempo.

She feels tremendous pressure to finish the project on time.

It Works for Both Genders

Since 'enorme' ends in the letter '-e', it describes both masculine nouns (el perro enorme) and feminine nouns (la casa enorme) without changing its ending.

Making it Plural

To describe more than one thing, simply add '-s' to the end: 'enormes'. Example: 'los problemas enormes' (the huge problems).

Changing the Gender

Mistake: “La montaña es enorma.”

Correction: La montaña es enorme. Adjectives ending in -e or consonants do not have a separate feminine form in Spanish.

gigante

hee-GAHN-teh/xiˈɣan̪.t̪e/

AdjectiveA1General
Choose 'gigante' to emphasize the extreme magnitude or impressive scale of something, often implying it's larger than expected.
A tiny, brightly dressed child looking up at a gigantic red apple resting on the ground, emphasizing the immense difference in size.

Examples

Vimos un árbol gigante en el bosque.

We saw a giant tree in the forest.

Compramos una televisión gigante para la sala.

We bought a huge television for the living room.

El reto de aprender español parecía gigante al principio.

The challenge of learning Spanish seemed enormous at first.

Adjective Agreement (The '-e' Rule)

Since 'gigante' ends in '-e', it doesn't change its ending when describing masculine or feminine things (e.g., 'el libro gigante' and 'la casa gigante'). It only changes for plural: 'gigantes'.

tremendo

treh-MEN-doh/tɾeˈmen.do/

AdjectiveB1General
Use 'tremendo' not just for size, but also to describe the intensity or severity of something, such as a noise, impact, or even a problem.
A tiny child standing next to a massive, brightly colored red apple, emphasizing its huge size.

Examples

El impacto causó un tremendo daño.

The impact caused tremendous damage.

Hubo un tremendo ruido cuando se cayó el árbol.

There was a huge noise when the tree fell.

Hicimos un tremendo esfuerzo para terminar a tiempo.

We made a great effort to finish on time.

Adjective Agreement

Like most Spanish adjectives, 'tremendo' changes its ending to match the thing it describes: 'tremendo éxito' (m, singular), 'tremenda sorpresa' (f, singular), 'tremendos problemas' (m, plural).

Size vs. Intensity

Learners often overuse 'enorme' or 'gigante' for situations where 'tremendo' is more appropriate. Remember that 'tremendo' can describe the intensity of an event or feeling, not just physical size.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.