Large vs. Largo: Say ‘Big,’ ‘Wide,’ and ‘Long’ in Portuguese — Practice
A guided practice lesson with English explanations, Brazilian Portuguese examples, and answers you can check. Read the examples, recall the meaning, then say a version of your own.
Use grande for large in size
Grande is the everyday Portuguese adjective for large or big. It works for a large room, a large drink, or a big decision. Its opposite is pequeno or pequena.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Precisamos de uma mesa grande para seis pessoas. | We need a large table for six people. |
| Você tem este casaco em um tamanho maior? | Do you have this coat in a larger size? |
Use largo for width
Largo commonly means wide or broad. It describes the distance from one side to the other, not overall size. It also appears in some place names and expressions, so context matters.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| A avenida é larga, mas tem muito trânsito. | The avenue is wide, but has a lot of traffic. |
| A porta precisa ser mais larga para a cadeira passar. | The doorway needs to be wider for the chair to pass through. |
Use comprido for length
Comprido means long in physical length; longo can also describe time, distance, or a longer text. If you want to describe all dimensions together, grande may be the simplest choice.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| A mesa é comprida e cabe na parede do fundo. | The table is long and fits along the back wall. |
| A sala é grande, mas a entrada é estreita. | The room is large, but the entrance is narrow. |
Remember: Large is usually grande, wide is largo, and long is comprido or longo.
Check your understanding
Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.
Recall the Portuguese, then say it
Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.
We need a large table for six people.
Show a Portuguese answer
Precisamos de uma mesa grande para seis pessoas.
Do you have this coat in a larger size?
Show a Portuguese answer
Você tem este casaco em um tamanho maior?
The avenue is wide, but has a lot of traffic.
Show a Portuguese answer
A avenida é larga, mas tem muito trânsito.
The doorway needs to be wider for the chair to pass through.
Show a Portuguese answer
A porta precisa ser mais larga para a cadeira passar.
The table is long and fits along the back wall.
Show a Portuguese answer
A mesa é comprida e cabe na parede do fundo.
The room is large, but the entrance is narrow.
Show a Portuguese answer
A sala é grande, mas a entrada é estreita.
Make the phrase useful to you
Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.
Large is usually grande, wide is largo, and long is comprido or longo.
Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.
Sources and your next lesson
This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Large vs. Largo: Say ‘Big,’ ‘Wide,’ and ‘Long’ in Portuguese lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.
To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.
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