campo grande: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (as English phrase); Medium-High (as proper noun for Brazilian city).Neutral to formal when describing landscape; proper noun when referring to the city.
Quick answer
What does “campo grande” mean?
A large field or open rural area, often used as a proper noun for places.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large field or open rural area, often used as a proper noun for places.
Can refer to a specific city in Brazil (Campo Grande, capital of Mato Grosso do Sul), or conceptually to any expansive rural landscape.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage; both treat it primarily as a foreign place name.
Connotations
British English may slightly favor Italian/Spanish geographical terms in certain contexts; American English may encounter it more via Brazilian references.
Frequency
Equally low in both as a descriptive phrase.
Grammar
How to Use “campo grande” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “campo grande” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The campo grande landscape was breathtaking.
American English
- They bought a campo grande ranch in the region.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In tourism or agricultural export contexts referring to the Brazilian city.
Academic
In geography or Latin American studies.
Everyday
When discussing travel to Brazil or describing a large rural scene.
Technical
Not typical outside of specific geographical references.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “campo grande”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “campo grande”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “campo grande”
- Using 'campo grande' as a countable noun (e.g., 'a campo grande').
- Capitalizing when used descriptively ('we saw a campo grande').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not a standard English lexical item. It is used either as the proper name of a Brazilian city or as a direct borrowing from Spanish/Portuguese to describe a 'large field'.
Yes, when referring to the city. When used descriptively (rare), it is not capitalized: 'the campo grande'.
Approximations of the original Portuguese/Spanish are used: /ˌkæmpəʊ ˈɡrændeɪ/ (UK) or /ˌkɑːmpoʊ ˈɡrɑːndeɪ/ (US).
Not in standard English. Its metaphorical potential is very low outside of poetic or creative writing where the imagery of a large open field is needed.
A large field or open rural area, often used as a proper noun for places.
Campo grande is usually neutral to formal when describing landscape; proper noun when referring to the city. in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “From the campo grande to the concrete jungle (rare, illustrative).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Campo sounds like 'camp', Grande sounds like 'grand' – a grand camping field.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE EXPANSE IS FREEDOM (when used descriptively).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'Campo Grande' primarily recognized as in English contexts?