mare
/ˈma.re/
The Romanian word for "big" is mare.
mare is primarily used to describe something of a great size. However, when used with a person or an abstract quality, such as un mare artist, it functions like the English word "great" rather than just referring to physical dimensions. There is also an informal term, Monstru, used to describe something so large that it invokes a sense of fear or intimidation, typically in a figurative sense. The idiom a avea gura mare (to have a big mouth) describes someone who is boastful, rude or talks too much.
Meaning: of a great size (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective mare is invariant in gender, so it remains the same whether the noun it describes is masculine, feminine or neuter. To express the plural, use the form mari.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈma.re/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The word mare is a homonym for the word for 'sea' in Romanian. While they are spelled identically, they carry entirely different origins and meanings.
- The word mare is a linguistic relative of the English word 'major'. Both words trace their lineage back to the Latin 'maior', which means 'greater'.
- If you want to say someone 'grew up', you can say they s-a făcut mare, which literally translates to 'became big'.
Examples in context
- E o firmă mare.It's a big company.This sentence shows how to use mare to describe a company.Tatoeba #8427436 by fathe, translation #3183592 by CK
- Tom are gura mare.Tom's got a big mouth.This sentence illustrates the idiom gura mare to describe someone's character.Tatoeba #8269408 by CataG, translation #3315075 by CK
- Ești un mare idiot.You're a big idiot.This sentence demonstrates how mare can be used to emphasize a noun like "idiot".Tatoeba #12782377 by ridisegnandone, translation #12081669 by CK
- Această clădire este mare.This building is big.
- Proiectul lor a avut un impact mare asupra comunității.Their project had a big impact on the community.
- Au câștigat o sumă colosală la loterie.They won a colossal amount of money in the lottery.
- Așa trafic monstru nu am mai văzut de mult timp!I haven't seen such monster traffic in a long time!
- 56 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Alexandru are looking at a new apartment.
- ElenaE un apartament mare, nu?It is a big apartment, isn't it?
- AlexandruDa, este foarte mare.Yes, it is very big.
- ElenaÎmi place camera mare.I like the big room.
- AlexandruȘi bucătăria este mare.And the kitchen is big.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “big” translations and entries mare, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mare, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
