Grande in Italian means big, large, or great, depending on the context. It can be used to describe physical size, importance, or excellence. Like many adjectives in Italian, grande can be applied to both masculine and feminine nouns and is the same in both singular forms (unlike in English, where big and great are two distinct words).
Here are a few examples to illustrate its use:
- Size: La casa è grande. – The house is big. Ha comprato una macchina grande. – He/She bought a large car.
- Importance or Excellence: È un grande scrittore. – He is a great writer. Che grande successo! – What a great success!
- Age (Informal Usage): In colloquial language, grande can also refer to someone who is older or grown up. For example: Mio figlio è diventato grande. – My son has grown up.
Expressions with grande:
- Un grande amico – A great friend.
- In grande stile – In grand style (used for impressive events or actions).
Comparative and Superlative Forms:
- Bigger or greater: più grande
Questa casa è più grande di quella. – This house is bigger than that one. - Biggest or greatest: il più grande
È il più grande attore di tutti i tempi. – He is the greatest actor of all time.
In summary, grande in Italian can refer to physical size, importance, excellence, or even maturity, depending on the context. It is a versatile word commonly used in everyday conversations and formal situations alike.