How do you say 'large' in Spanish?

The word is grande, which works for describing size in most contexts — from clothing sizes to room dimensions to food portions.

What is the difference between grande and largo?

Grande means large or big in overall size, while largo means long in length — they are false friends, and confusing them is one of the most common mistakes English speakers make in Spanish.

Does grande change meaning when placed before a noun?

When grande is shortened to gran and placed before a singular noun, it often shifts meaning from physically large to great or remarkable — un gran hombre means a great man, while un hombre grande means a big man.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

Large in Spanish: Grande

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Grande · adjective · GRAHN-deh

Grande is the Spanish adjective for large, used to describe something of considerable size, extent, or importance.

GRAHN-deh

Necesito una talla más grande.

I need a larger size.

Large in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for large, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
grande	large	GRAHN-deh	Default, widely understood
amplio	large		spacious, wide
extenso	large		extensive, vast

How Native Speakers Use Grande

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Shopping

¿Tiene este vestido en una talla más grande?

Do you have this dress in a larger size?

Asking for a bigger size at a clothing store.

Describing space

Viven en una casa muy grande.

They live in a very large house.

Commenting on the size of a home.

Ordering food

Quiero un café grande, por favor.

I want a large coffee, please.

Ordering at a café.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Grande

Using largo instead of grande

Incorrect: La habitación es muy larga. (meaning large/spacious)

Correct: La habitación es muy grande.

Largo means long (in length), not large — this is a classic false cognate trap for English speakers.

Forgetting to shorten before singular nouns

Incorrect: Él es un grande hombre.

Correct: Él es un gran hombre.

Grande shortens to gran when placed before a singular noun, and in this position it often means great rather than large.

Lock in Large Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Grande used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using grande in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Necesito una talla más grande. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About Large in Spanish

How do you say 'large' in Spanish?: The word is grande, which works for describing size in most contexts — from clothing sizes to room dimensions to food portions.
What is the difference between grande and largo?: Grande means large or big in overall size, while largo means long in length — they are false friends, and confusing them is one of the most common mistakes English speakers make in Spanish.
Does grande change meaning when placed before a noun?: When grande is shortened to gran and placed before a singular noun, it often shifts meaning from physically large to great or remarkable — un gran hombre means a great man, while un hombre grande means a big man.