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"Grande" is an adjective which is often translated as "big", and "mayor" is an adjective which is often translated as "bigger". Learn more about the difference between "grande" and "mayor" below.
grande(
grahn
-
deh
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (size)
3. (age)
b. older
La nueva profesora de inglés es una mujer grande.The new English teacher is an older woman.
c. big (especially when spoken to a child)
Ya eres grande, Anita. Te puedes atar los zapatos tú solita.You're big now, Anita. You can tie your shoes yourself.
4. (quantity)
a. large
Un gran número de personas se reunió en las calles para festejar.A large number of people gathered in the streets to celebrate.
5. (importance)
a. great
Es un asunto de gran importancia para la nación.It's a matter of great importance for the nation.
b. big
Los líderes del mundo se juntan hoy para discutir las grandes preguntas del cambio climático.The leaders of the world are meeting today to discuss the big questions associated with climate change.
6. (intensity)
7. (colloquial) (fantastic) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
8. (colloquial) (adult)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. grown-up (colloquial)
Hay una mesa para los grandes y otra para los niños.There's a table for the grown-ups and another one for the children.
a. big name
Nadal es uno de los más grandes del tenis mundial.Nadal is one of the biggest names in world tennis.
b. major player
La empresa de Petrini es una de las grandes del sector textil.Petrini's company is one of the major players in the textile industry.
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
a. jackpot
Gómez se sacó la grande y se fue a vivir a Punta del Este.Gómez won the jackpot and moved to Punta del Este.
mayor(
mah
-
yohr
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
d. largest (superlative)
El mayor océano del mundo es el Pacífico.The world's largest ocean is the Pacific Ocean.
c. oldest (superlative)
Con 101 años, Juan era el mayor del pueblo.At 101 years, John was the oldest man in the village.
d. eldest (superlative)
Mi hijo mayor va a ser piloto de cazas.My eldest son is going to become a fighter pilot.
f. elderly
Las personas mayores han de cuidarse mucho.Elderly people should take good care of themselves.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
3. (military) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. major
El mayor y el capitán están planeando un nuevo ataque.The major and the captain are planning a new attack.
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
a. head
El mayor del ministerio aprobó el presupuesto.The head of the department approved the budget.
los mayores, las mayores
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
5. (old people)
a. elderly
Hoy en día todo el mundo trabaja y nadie tiene tiempo para cuidar de los mayores.Everyone works nowadays and no one has time to look after the elderly.
b. elders
¿Por qué has contestado así a tu abuelo? Deberías respetar a tus mayores.Why did you answer your grandfather back like that? You should respect your elders.
a. grown-ups
Después de almorzar, los mayores tomaron café en el comedor y los niños se fueron a jugar al jardín.After lunch, the grown-ups had coffee in the dining room and the kids went to play in the garden.
b. adults
Los mayores a veces olvidan que ellos también fueron niños una vez.Adults sometimes forget that they were also children once.
