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How to Say "generous" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “generous” is “generoso” — use 'generoso' when referring to someone who gives freely of their time, money, or possessions, often with a general sense of kindness..

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generoso

heh-neh-ROH-soh/xe.neˈɾo.so/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'generoso' when referring to someone who gives freely of their time, money, or possessions, often with a general sense of kindness.
A high quality storybook illustration showing one child happily handing a large, ripe apple to another child, symbolizing the act of giving freely.

Examples

Mi hermana es muy generosa y siempre comparte sus dulces.

My sister is very generous and always shares her candy.

Necesitas ser más generoso con tu tiempo si quieres ayudar a la comunidad.

You need to be more generous with your time if you want to help the community.

Matching Gender and Number

Remember that 'generoso' describes a masculine singular person or thing. If you are describing a woman, use 'generosa'. For groups, use 'generosos' (mixed or all male) or 'generosas' (all female).

Mixing up the Noun and Adjective

Mistake: “La generosidad persona.”

Correction: La persona generosa. ('Generoso' is the describing word (adjective) and usually comes after the person/thing (noun).)

espléndido

adjectiveB2general
Choose 'espléndido' when describing generosity specifically related to money, lavish gifts, or abundant hospitality.

Examples

Mi abuelo fue muy espléndido con sus regalos de Navidad.

My grandfather was very generous with his Christmas gifts.

noble

/NO-bleh//ˈnoβle/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'noble' to describe a generous act or person that shows high moral principles and kindness of spirit, focusing on character rather than material giving.
A young child is kneeling down, gently helping an elderly person pick up several apples that have spilled from a wicker basket onto the ground.

Examples

Fue un gesto muy noble de su parte ayudar a los más necesitados.

It was a very noble gesture on his part to help those most in need.

Mi perro es muy noble y nunca muerde a nadie.

My dog is very gentle/kind-hearted and never bites anyone.

Ella tiene un corazón noble; siempre perdona los errores de los demás.

She has a noble heart; she always forgives the mistakes of others.

Adjective Form

Since 'noble' ends in the letter -e, it is one of the adjectives that stays the same whether the noun it describes is masculine or feminine (e.g., 'el hombre noble' and 'la mujer noble').

largo

/LAR-go//ˈlaɾɣo/

adjectiveA1general
Use 'largo' for 'generous' only when referring to quantity or size, like a generous portion of food or a wide, extensive scope, but not for personal giving.
A winding, very long road stretching far into the distance across a green landscape.

Examples

Me sirvieron una porción generosa de paella.

They served me a generous portion of paella.

El vestido es demasiado largo para mí.

The dress is too long for me.

Fue un invierno largo y frío.

It was a long and cold winter.

Me sirvió una porción muy larga de pastel.

He served me a very generous portion of cake.

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).

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'.

Generoso vs. Espléndido

Learners often confuse 'generoso' and 'espléndido'. While both can imply giving, 'generoso' is a broader term for general giving and kindness, whereas 'espléndido' specifically highlights large amounts of money or lavishness.

Related Translations

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