What it's NOT
gross does NOT translate to grueso.
To say "grueso" in English, use thick / fat.
ESEN
False cognate · False friend
gross
Does NOT mean grueso
It means disgusting / revolting
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
gross means disgusting / revolting.
Why it's confused
Spanish "grueso" describes something thick or wide. English "gross" can mean disgusting or revolting, but it also means the total before deductions, as in "gross income."
How it's pronounced
grossGRÓUS
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Examples of correct use
English
Ew, that's gross!
Spanish
¡Guácala, qué asco!
English
The kitchen was gross.
Spanish
La cocina estaba asquerosa.
A trick to remember it
Gross = disgusting (or "gross income" before deductions). Thick (Spanish "grueso") = thick.
Mini quiz
"That's gross" means...
Frequently asked questions
What does "gross" mean in English?
"Gross" means "disgusting / revolting". It looks a lot like "grueso", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "grueso" in English?
To say "grueso" in English, use "thick / fat". If you use "gross" instead, you would actually be saying "disgusting / revolting".
Do "gross" and "grueso" mean the same thing?
Spanish "grueso" describes something thick or wide. English "gross" can mean disgusting or revolting, but it also means the total before deductions, as in "gross income."
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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