Grande vs Gran – Big vs Great
Spanish distinguishes gran and grande by position and meaning, so choosing one or the other changes whether you praise someone or simply note size. This short guide shows when to use gran (figurally "great") versus grande (literally "big") with clear examples.
Gran
Use gran before a singular noun to mean "great," "remarkable," or "important" rather than literally large; it emphasizes quality or status. Gran shortens grande and always precedes the noun to signal figurative value.
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Grande
Use grande after the noun to keep the literal sense of "big" or physically large; it can appear with singular or plural nouns and retains concrete meaning. Placing grande after the noun ensures the reader hears size rather than praise.
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Examples
| Spanish Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 🌟 Es un gran escritor conocido en todo el país. | He is a great writer known throughout the country. | Figurative praise before noun |
| 🏫 La universidad es grande y tiene muchos edificios. | The university is large and has many buildings. | Literal size after noun |
| 👴 Fue un gran hombre en su comunidad. | He was a great man in his community. | Moral or social greatness |
| 🐘 El elefante es grande y pesa muchísimas toneladas. | The elephant is big and weighs many tons. | Physical largeness |
| 🎨 Tuvieron un gran éxito con la exposición. | They had a great success with the exhibition. | Figurative success |
| 📦 Compraron una caja grande para los regalos. | They bought a big box for the gifts. | Size of object |
Summary
Remember: use gran before singular nouns for figurative "great" and grande after the noun for literal "big"; switching them changes the sentence's meaning and nuance. Practice substituting each in short sentences to feel the difference between praise and size.
Spanish distinguishes gran and grande by position and meaning, so choosing one or the other changes whether you praise someone or simply note size. This short guide shows when to use gran (figurally "great") versus grande (literally "big") with clear examples.
Last updated: Tue Sep 16, 2025