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"Grande" is an adjective which is often translated as "big", and "tremendo" is an adjective which is often translated as "tremendous". Learn more about the difference between "grande" and "tremendo" 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.
tremendo(
treh
-
mehn
-
doh
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (vast)
a. tremendous
Por desgracia, el tremendo ejército enemigo nos superaba en número.The enemy's tremendous army unfortunately outnumbered us.
b. enormous
La muerte del profesor Vázquez fue una pérdida tremenda para el cuerpo docente.Professor Vazquez's death was an enormous loss for our faculty.
c. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Para cuando llegamos a casa yo ya tenía un hambre tremenda.By the time we got home I was real hungry.
Tengo unas ganas tremendas de conocerte.I'm really looking forward to meeting you.
2. (atrocious)
a. terrible
La deforestación trae tremendas consecuencias para la vida silvestre.Deforestation leads to terrible consequences for wildlife.
b. dreadful
Diez personas murieron en un tremendo accidente de tránsito.Ten people died in a dreadful car accident.
c. horrific
La tremenda tragedia se pudo haber evitado con las medidas de seguridad adecuadas.The horrific tragedy could have been prevented with the proper safety measures.
3. (colloquial) (mischievous)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. terrible
Tu hijo es tremendo. Me escribió las paredes con crayón.Your son is terrible. He drew on my walls with crayons.
b. naughty
Karina era una niña tremenda, pero ahora es una adolescente que se porta bien.Karina used to be a naughty girl, but now she is a well-behaved teenager.
c. little terror (noun)
Se puso a patinar dentro de la casa y rompió un florero. ¡Ese niño es tremendo!He was skating inside the house and broke a flower vase. He's a little terror!
