la grande
B1Both formal and informal, depending on context (e.g., 'grand design' formal, 'a grand' informal for money).
Definition
Meaning
large, impressive, and important in size, scope, or scale.
Magnificent or splendid in appearance; ambitious in scope; used as a title denoting the highest rank (e.g., grand duke); informal for a thousand dollars or pounds; in family relations, a generation removed (e.g., grandparent).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can describe physical size, importance, or excellence. In informal monetary use ('a grand'), it is singular even for plural amounts (e.g., 'fifty grand'). The familial sense is almost exclusively used in compounds like grandfather, granddaughter.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Informal monetary use is common in both (a grand = £1000 / $1000). 'Grand' as a standalone term for 'magnificent' is slightly more frequent in UK English in certain fixed phrases (e.g., 'look grand').
Connotations
In both, can sometimes carry a slight ironic or old-fashioned nuance when describing things as splendid ('a grand old house').
Frequency
Comparably frequent. The plural 'grand' (for money) is used without 's' in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[ADJ] + noun (a grand building)linking verb + [ADJ] (The view looks grand.)[ADJ] + in + noun (grand in scale)Verb + [OBJECT] + [ADJ] (They think it grand.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “grand old man of (a field)”
- “grand gesture”
- “grand slam (sports/cards)”
- “grand tour”
- “too grand for (someone)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Informal: 'The project cost fifty grand.' Formal: 'The CEO outlined his grand vision for the merger.'
Academic
Used in historical/art contexts: 'the grand narrative of history', 'the grand style of Baroque architecture.'
Everyday
Describing things positively: 'We had a grand day out.' 'It's a grand view from here.'
Technical
In music: 'grand piano'. In law: 'grand jury'. In titles: 'Grand Marshal'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a verb in standard usage.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb in standard usage.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb in standard usage.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb in standard usage.
adjective
British English
- They stayed in a grand hotel overlooking the park.
- He made a grand gesture by donating anonymously.
American English
- She has grand plans for her new startup.
- The Grand Canyon is a breathtaking sight.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandpa is very kind.
- They have a grand piano in their living room.
- The wedding was a grand occasion.
- The grand total for the meal was £75.
- He always had the grand ambition of sailing around the world.
- In the grand scheme of things, this problem is quite minor.
- The novel deconstructs the grand narratives of traditional history.
- The prosecution presented its case to a federal grand jury.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a GRANDparent – they are an important, older generation, often associated with large, impressive family stories or a grand presence.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE IS SIZE / QUALITY IS SIZE (e.g., a grand idea, a grand mistake).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'grand' directly as 'большой' (big) for abstract concepts; 'grand idea' is 'грандиозная/величественная идея', not 'большая идея'.
- The monetary 'grand' has no direct Russian equivalent; use 'тысяча долларов/фунтов'.
- 'Grand' in family terms is a prefix: grandfather = дедушка, not 'большой отец'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'grands' for plural monetary amounts (incorrect: *'It cost 100 grands'; correct: 'It cost 100 grand').
- Overusing 'grand' to mean simply 'good' in formal contexts where 'excellent' or 'splendid' is better.
- Confusing 'grand' with 'grant' in spelling.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'grand' used to mean a specific amount of money?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends. Describing something as 'magnificent' ('a grand palace') is standard. Using it to mean £1000/$1000 ('It cost ten grand') is informal/slang.
It is invariable. You say 'twenty grand', never 'twenty grands'.
Yes, but mainly in the informal monetary sense ('He won a grand on the lottery') or in the family compound form ('the grands' as short for grandparents, which is informal).
'Grand-' refers to a relationship two generations apart (grandparent, grandchild). 'Great-' adds another generation (great-grandparent).