Spanish word

monumental

Pronunciation

IPA/monumenˈtal/

Meaning

  • adjectivehuge

Example

Construyeron una escultura monumental en la plaza.

They built a huge sculpture in the square.

Illustration for monumental (huge)

More examples

Cometió un error monumental en la presentación.

He made a huge error in the presentation.

Core concept

An immense structure whose base dwarfs nearby people.

Common phrases

  • error monumental

    huge error

  • desafío monumental

    huge challenge

Similar words

grande: Simply large in physical size or amount, without notable intensity.
enorme: Tremendously large in size or number, focusing on raw magnitude.
vasto: Extensive in area or scope, emphasizing breadth rather than height.
inmenso: Immense in extent or size, conveying an almost limitless vastness.

Definition in Spanish

Que impresiona por su escala o importancia, aplicable tanto a objetos materiales como a acciones, cifras o ideas de gran magnitud.

Word origin

Formed in Spanish from monumento + -al, ultimately from Latin monumentum, with the sense extended from 'memorial' to 'very large or significant'.

Usage tips

  • Although identical in form to English monumental, Spanish speakers commonly use it for abstract items too (una obra monumental, cifras monumentales), so expect it with actions, numbers, or ideas.

Other meanings

  • grandadjective
  • vastadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • monumentalmentehugelyadverb

Word lists with this word