Grand vs Gros – Tall/Big vs Fat/Bulky
In French, grand and gros translate differently depending on whether you describe a person, an object, or an abstract quality. This short guide shows when to use each word so you sound natural.
Grand
Use grand to describe height, importance, or size in a positive or neutral sense. For people, it usually means tall; for things, it can mean large or great.
Examples
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🐘 L’éléphant est grand et majestueux. | The elephant is tall and majestic. |
| 🏫 Le bâtiment est grand et lumineux. | The building is large and bright. |
| 👨 L’homme est grand, il dépasse tout le monde. | The man is tall; he stands out from everyone. |
| 🌳 L’arbre est grand et ses branches touchent le ciel. | The tree is tall, and its branches touch the sky. |
Expressions
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🌟 Il est grand homme dans son métier. | He is a great man in his field. |
| 👶 L’enfant a grandi cet été. | The child grew up this summer. |
| 🎩 Elle a une grande personnalité. | She has a great personality. |
| 🗣️ Grandissez-vous, s’il vous plaît ? | Could you speak louder, please? |
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Gros
Use gros to describe thickness, bulk, or fatness. It can have a negative nuance when applied to people, so use it carefully. For objects, it often refers to thickness or substantial size.
Examples
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🐘 L’éléphant est gros avec de larges défenses. | The elephant is big with wide tusks. |
| 🍉 Le melon est gros et très mûr. | The melon is large and very ripe. |
| 🐶 Le chien est gros après les fêtes. | The dog is fat after the holidays. |
| 🧸 Le nounours est gros et tout doux. | The teddy bear is big and very soft. |
Expressions
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 💊 Il prend des médicaments pour le gros problème. | He is taking medicine for the serious problem. |
| 💤 J’ai un gros rhume. | I have a bad cold. |
| 📚 C’est un gros livre intéressant. | It’s a big (thick) interesting book. |
| ⚠️ Faire un gros effort. | To make a great effort. |
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Other Words for Big
When you want to avoid gros and sound more precise or gentle, French offers alternatives like énorme, massif, volumineux, or important depending on context.
Examples
| French Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 🏢 L’immeuble est immense et brille au soleil. | The building is immense and shines in the sun. | Synonym of very large |
| 🚛 Le camion est énorme et bloque la rue. | The truck is huge and blocks the street. | More colloquial |
| 🎂 Ils ont fait un gâteau gigantesque pour la fête. | They made a gigantic cake for the party. | Exaggerated size |
| 🐳 La baleine est colossale dans l’océan. | The whale is colossal in the ocean. | Formal/literary |
| 🏠 Nous avons une maison spacieuse et accueillante. | We have a spacious and welcoming house. | Emphasizes space, not weight |
Expressions
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🔥 C’est un coup énorme ! | That’s a huge hit! |
| 🕵️ Une affaire colossale. | A colossal deal. |
| 🎉 On a fait une fête grandiose. | We had a magnificent party. |
| 🗳️ Un vote massif. | A massive vote. |
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Summary
Remember: use grand for height or positive/neutral largeness, and gros for bulk, thickness, or fatness. Choose alternatives if you need a more specific or delicate word.
Last updated: Tue Sep 16, 2025