coloso
Lemma Details
Translation: colossus; giant; behemoth
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: From Latin 'colossus', which came from Ancient Greek 'κολοσσός' (kolossós), referring to a giant statue. The word gained prominence through the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The English cognate 'colossus' shares the same root, making this an easy connection for English speakers.
Commonality: 40%
Guessability: 90%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
El Coloso de Rodas era una estatua enorme del dios Helios.
The Colossus of Rhodes was an enormous statue of the god Helios.
Ese jugador es un coloso en la cancha.
That player is a giant on the court.
La empresa se ha convertido en un coloso de la industria.
The company has become a behemoth in the industry.
Mnemonics
- Think of the 'Colosseum' in Rome - both words share the same root and refer to something massive.
- Remember 'colossal' in English - something extremely large, just like a 'coloso'.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
In Spanish culture, 'coloso' is often used metaphorically to refer to something or someone of great importance or influence in their field. It's commonly used in sports journalism to refer to dominant teams or athletes.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'coloso' refers to a giant statue or figuratively to something enormous, 'coliseo' specifically refers to an amphitheater, most famously the Roman Colosseum.
Confused word:
El coliseo romano podía albergar a miles de espectadores.
The Roman Colosseum could hold thousands of spectators.
Notes: Both words have classical origins and refer to impressive structures from ancient times.
Mnemonic: 'Coloso' ends with 'o' like 'gigantic-o', while 'coliseo' ends with 'eo' like 'theater-eo'.