What it's NOT
grand does NOT translate to grande.
To say "grande" in English, use big / large.
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False cognate · False friend
grand
Does NOT mean grande
It means magnificent / impressive
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
grand means magnificent / impressive.
Why it's confused
Spanish "grande" describes the size of something. English "grand" carries a connotation of majestic, impressive, or high quality. A "grand piano" isn't a big piano, it's a concert-style piano.
How it's pronounced
grandGRAND
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Examples of correct use
English
They stayed in a grand hotel.
Spanish
Se hospedaron en un hotel grandioso.
English
It was a grand celebration.
Spanish
Fue una celebración magnífica.
A trick to remember it
Grand = magnificent/impressive. Big in size (Spanish "grande") = big/large.
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Frequently asked questions
What does "grand" mean in English?
"Grand" means "magnificent / impressive". It looks a lot like "grande", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "grande" in English?
To say "grande" in English, use "big / large". If you use "grand" instead, you would actually be saying "magnificent / impressive".
Do "grand" and "grande" mean the same thing?
Spanish "grande" describes the size of something. English "grand" carries a connotation of majestic, impressive, or high quality. A "grand piano" isn't a big piano, it's a concert-style piano.
Other confusing false friends
More confusing false friends
Library, embarrassed, actually... the full list of words that look the same but mean something different.
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