gigantes: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSpecialised/Formal/Literary
Quick answer
What does “gigantes” mean?
The plural of 'gigante', a borrowing from Spanish, literally meaning 'giants'.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The plural of 'gigante', a borrowing from Spanish, literally meaning 'giants'.
Most commonly refers to giant figures or performers in parades or festivals, particularly those of Spanish or Hispanic tradition. It can also be used as a proper noun, e.g., for the mythological Greek Giants or in specific proper names (like Gigantes baseball team).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Awareness may be slightly higher in American English due to larger Hispanic cultural influence.
Connotations
Cultural specificity (Spanish/Latin American festivals), mythology, or proper names.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties, appearing mainly in cultural, academic, or specialised contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “gigantes” in a Sentence
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Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gigantes” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The gigantes figures towered over the crowd.
American English
- The Gigantes baseball team has a new stadium.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in studies of classical mythology, Hispanic culture, or festival traditions.
Everyday
Rare; only used when specifically discussing relevant cultural events or mythology.
Technical
Not used in technical fields outside specific cultural anthropology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gigantes”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gigantes”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gigantes”
- Mispronouncing the 'g' as hard /g/ (it's /h/ in the Spanish origin).
- Using it as a singular noun (a gigante).
- Treating it as a common English word for any giant.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a loanword from Spanish used in English in specific cultural or proper noun contexts. It is not part of core everyday vocabulary.
English speakers typically pronounce it with an approximation of the Spanish: /hɪˈɡæn.teɪz/ (UK) or /hɪˈɡɑːn.teɪz/ (US), with a soft 'g' sounding like an English 'h'.
The singular is 'gigante', but it is rarely used in English outside of directly quoting Spanish.
Only in very specific contexts relating to Spanish/Latin American culture, mythology (when referring to the Greek Gigantes), or proper names. In general English, use 'giants'.
The plural of 'gigante', a borrowing from Spanish, literally meaning 'giants'.
Gigantes is usually specialised/formal/literary in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common English idioms use this word.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'GIGANTES are GIANT figures in Spanish fêtes.'
Conceptual Metaphor
GREAT SIZE IS POWER (as with giants).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'Gigantes' most likely to be capitalised?