gigante
Wordform Details
Translation: gianthuge
Part of Speech: adjective
Inflection Type:
singularIs Dictionary Form: Yes
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma Details
Translation: giant; colossus; huge person
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: From Latin 'gigas, gigantis', which comes from Greek 'γίγας' (gigas), meaning 'giant' or 'titan'. The English word 'giant' shares the same Greek-Latin root, making them cognates. In mythology, giants were enormous beings with superhuman strength who often challenged the gods. The word has maintained its meaning of something or someone of extraordinary size across languages and centuries.
Commonality: 70%
Guessability: 90%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Los gigantes de la literatura española incluyen a Cervantes y García Lorca.
The giants of Spanish literature include Cervantes and García Lorca.
En el cuento, Jack se enfrentó a un gigante que vivía en las nubes.
In the story, Jack faced a giant who lived in the clouds.
Esta empresa es un gigante en la industria tecnológica.
This company is a giant in the technology industry.
Mnemonics
- Think of the English word 'gigantic' which shares the same root and means extremely large.
- Imagine a 'giga-ante' (giga being a prefix for billion and ante meaning before) - something so big it came before billions.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
In Spanish folklore, giants (gigantes) are common figures in festivals and parades, often represented by large papier-mâché figures carried by people. The term is also used metaphorically to refer to someone who has made significant contributions in their field.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'gigante' refers specifically to something of extraordinary size or a mythological being, 'grande' simply means 'big' or 'large' in a more general sense.
This word:
Ese hombre es un gigante, mide más de dos metros.
That man is a giant, he's over two meters tall.
Confused word:
Esta es una casa grande con muchas habitaciones.
This is a big house with many rooms.
Notes: 'Gigante' often carries mythological or metaphorical connotations that 'grande' does not.
Mnemonic: 'Gigante' contains 'giga' which suggests something extremely large, while 'grande' is more moderate in implication.
Explanation: 'Gigante' is a noun referring to the being itself, while 'gigantesco' is an adjective meaning 'gigantic' that describes something with giant-like qualities.
Notes: 'Gigantesco' is always an adjective, while 'gigante' can sometimes function as an adjective as well as a noun.
Mnemonic: Remember that 'gigante' ends with 'e' for 'entity' (the giant itself), while 'gigantesco' ends with 'o' for 'of' or 'like' a giant.