How to Say "expressive" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “expressive” is “expresivo” — use 'expresivo' when describing a person or their mannerisms as readily showing feelings or thoughts..
expresivo
/eks-pre-SEE-bo//ekspɾeˈsiβo/
Examples
Mi hermano es muy expresivo y siempre dice lo que siente.
My brother is very expressive and always says what he feels.
Ella tiene unos ojos muy expresivos que lo dicen todo.
She has very expressive eyes that say it all.
Su pintura utiliza colores fuertes para crear un estilo más expresivo.
His painting uses strong colors to create a more expressive style.
Matching the Ending
Remember to change the 'o' to an 'a' if you are describing a woman or a feminine object, such as 'una mirada expresiva' (an expressive look).
Where to Put the Word
This word usually comes after the noun you are describing, like 'un niño expresivo' (an expressive boy).
Gender Mismatch
Mistake: “La pintura es muy expresivo.”
Correction: La pintura es muy expresiva. Because 'pintura' is feminine, the word must end in 'a'.
significativo
/seeg-nee-fee-kah-TEE-boh//siɣnifikaˈtiβo/
Examples
Hubo un aumento significativo en las ventas este mes.
There was a significant increase in sales this month.
Recibir esa carta fue muy significativo para mi abuela.
Receiving that letter was very meaningful for my grandmother.
Ella me lanzó una mirada significativa y entendí que debíamos irnos.
She gave me a telling look and I understood we had to leave.
Matching the Ending
Since this is a word that describes things, the ending must change to match the item. Use 'significativo' for masculine items (un cambio) and 'significativa' for feminine items (una mejora).
Natural Sentence Order
In Spanish, you usually place 'significativo' after the thing you are describing. For example: 'un progreso significativo' sounds more natural than putting it before.
Confusing with 'Significante'
Mistake: “Ese es un cambio significante.”
Correction: Ese es un cambio significativo. 'Significante' is a very technical term used in linguistics; for 'important' or 'large,' always use 'significativo'.
Person vs. Message
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.