Inklingo

How to Say "giant" in Spanish

English → Spanish

gigante

hee-GAHN-tehxiˈɣan̪.t̪e

nounA2general
Use 'gigante' when referring to a mythological, legendary, or fictional being that is exceptionally large.
A colossal, bearded giant figure wearing simple clothes, towering over a small village nestled in a green valley.

Examples

En el cuento, el valiente pastor derrotó al gigante.

In the story, the brave shepherd defeated the giant.

Los gigantes de la mitología griega eran hijos de la Tierra.

The giants of Greek mythology were children of the Earth.

Gender Flexibility

When referring to a female giant, you can use 'la gigante' or 'la giganta.' 'Giganta' is more common in modern Spanish for the female form.

grandote

gran-DOH-tehɡɾanˈdote

nounB1informal
Choose 'grandote' for a casual, often affectionate or playful, way to describe a person who is simply very large or tall.
A very tall and broad friendly man wearing a green sweater standing next to a standard-sized garden fence.

Examples

Ese grandote es el que juega al baloncesto.

That big guy is the one who plays basketball.

No te asustes, es un grandote muy amable.

Don't be scared, he's a very kind big guy.

Mira a ese grandote de allá; es el doble de alto que yo.

Look at that big guy over there; he's twice as tall as me.

Adjective to Noun

In Spanish, you can often take a word that describes something (like 'big') and put 'el' or 'un' in front of it to turn it into a person. 'Un grandote' literally means 'a big one' but refers to a man.

Thinking it's an Insult

Mistake: “Thinking 'grandote' is always rude.”

Correction: While calling someone 'big' can be sensitive, 'grandote' is often used affectionately, like 'big fella.' Just watch your tone of voice!

titán

nounB1general
Use 'titán' figuratively to describe someone who is immensely powerful, influential, or important, often in a historical or mythological context.

Examples

Cronos era el titán más famoso de la mitología griega.

Cronus was the most famous titan in Greek mythology.

Gigante vs. Grandote

Learners often use 'gigante' for any large person, but it's best reserved for mythical or fictional characters. For everyday, informal descriptions of a large person, 'grandote' is usually the more natural and common choice.

Related Translations

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