Inklingo

How to Say "spacious" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word forspaciousis ampliouse 'amplio' when referring to the generous size or roominess of a specific space, especially rooms or buildings.

English → Spanish

amplio

am-plyohˈampljo

adjectiveA1general
Use 'amplio' when referring to the generous size or roominess of a specific space, especially rooms or buildings.
A large, airy living room with high ceilings and very few pieces of furniture, showing a lot of open floor space.

Examples

Vivimos en un apartamento muy amplio.

We live in a very spacious apartment.

El jardín es lo suficientemente amplio para jugar al fútbol.

The garden is wide enough to play soccer.

Hay un pasillo amplio que conecta todas las habitaciones.

There is a wide hallway that connects all the rooms.

Matching the Word It Describes

This word must change to match the thing it describes. Use 'amplio' for masculine items (un salón amplio) and 'amplia' for feminine items (una casa amplia).

Where to Put the Word

Usually, you place 'amplio' after the thing you are describing. If you put it before (e.g., 'un amplio salón'), it sounds a bit more formal or fancy.

Using 'Grande' instead of 'Amplio'

Mistake:La habitación es muy grande.

Correction: La habitación es muy amplia.

grande

GRAHN-dehˈɡɾande

adjectiveA1general
Use 'grande' to describe a room or area that is simply large in size, often interchangeable with 'big'.
A high quality storybook illustration showing a massive, round red apple next to a tiny, green apple on a grassy hill, emphasizing the concept of 'big'.

Examples

Mi casa es muy grande.

My house is very big.

Necesito una talla más grande, por favor.

I need a larger size, please.

Es un hombre alto y grande.

He is a tall and big man.

Where to Place It

To talk about physical size, 'grande' almost always comes after the thing it's describing. For example, 'la casa grande' (the big house).

Always Stays the Same (for Gender)

'Grande' doesn't change for masculine or feminine things. It's 'el perro grande' (the big dog) and 'la gata grande' (the big cat).

Mixing up 'Big' and 'Long'

Mistake:El Nilo es un río muy grande.

Correction: El Nilo es un río muy largo. While the Nile is big, when you're talking about its length, 'largo' is the right word. Use 'grande' for overall size or volume.

Amplio vs. Grande

Learners often confuse 'amplio' and 'grande' because both can mean 'big' or 'large'. Remember that 'amplio' specifically emphasizes the *roominess* or *generous space* within a room or building, while 'grande' is a more general term for size.

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