Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| gran avance | /ɡɾan abanθe/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /ɡɾan abanse/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
| grosso adelanto | /ɡɾosso adelanto/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| groso logro | /ɡɾoso loɡɾo/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| progreso considerable | /pɾoɡɾeso konsideɾable/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| innovación significante | /innobaθjon siɡnifikante/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /innobasjon siɡnifikante/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
| éxito significativo | /eɡsito siɡnifikatibo/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| hito mayúsculo | /ito maʝuskulo/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| jalón protagónico | /xalon pɾotaɡoniko/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| abrir brecha | /abɾiɾ bɾet͡ʃa/ (from spelling rules) | phrase, verb |
The term breakthrough can be expressed in several ways depending on the context. Gran avance is the most natural and versatile way to describe a scientific, technological or medical breakthrough. If you are discussing personal or professional success, you might use logro, which refers to an achievement. In informal settings, particularly when talking about personal growth or a radical transformation, you can use cambio radical. For research and scientific contexts specifically, descubrimiento (discovery) is often used to imply a breakthrough. The verbal phrase abrir brecha is used to describe the act of making a breakthrough or pioneering a new field, similar to the English 'to pave the way'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase gran avance is composed of gran (great/large) and avance (advance/progress).
Which one should you use?
While gran avance focuses on the progress or movement forward made during a process, éxito significativo focuses specifically on the achievement of a goal (significant success). For the action of creating a breakthrough, use the verb phrase abrir brecha instead of the noun forms.
How does it change in a sentence?
Gran avance is a masculine noun phrase. Because avance is masculine, you must use the masculine article un or el when referring to a breakthrough (e.g., un gran avance). While gran avance is a noun used to describe the breakthrough itself, abrir brecha is a verbal phrase used to describe the act of making a breakthrough or pioneering a new field.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡɾan abanθe/
Did you know?
- The word logro, used to describe a breakthrough or achievement, shares an ancestor with the English word 'lucre' through the Latin 'lucrum'.
- While gran avance is used generally, Spanish speakers often use hito to describe a breakthrough that serves as a historical milestone.
- The Spanish word for 'breakthrough' as an action, abrir brecha, literally means 'to open a gap' or 'to open a breach'.
Examples in context
- Él exageró malamente su capacidad para lograr un gran avance.He badly exaggerated his ability to achieve a breakthrough.This sentence shows how to use gran avance regarding a person's ability.Tatoeba #5924193 by albrusgher, translation #3299684 by fekundulo
- Un gran avance en nuestra comprensión del universo tuvo lugar en la década de 1920 gracias al astrónomo estadounidense Edwin Hubble.A major breakthrough in our understanding of the universe took place in the 1920's thanks to American astronomer Edwin Hubble.This sentence uses gran avance to describe a scientific breakthrough in astronomy.Tatoeba #4381358 by pchamorro, translation #3957948 by Hybrid
- Mucho tiempo ha pasado desde que la industria ha encontrado un gran avance tecnológico y ni siquiera ha dado un paso considerable hacia adelante. Esto redujo y acortó la perspectiva.Long has it been since the industry has encountered a technological breakthrough, nor even has taken a considerable step forward. This narrowed and shortened the view.This sentence illustrates the use of gran avance in a technological context.Tatoeba #5924231 by albrusgher, translation #1241285 by al_ex_an_der
- El último avance tecnológico ha revolucionado la industria.The latest technological breakthrough has revolutionized the industry.
- ¡No puedo creer el descubrimiento que hice hoy!I can't believe the breakthrough I made today!
- Su investigación llevó al descubrimiento de un nuevo tratamiento médico.Their research led to the discovery of a new medical treatment.
- ¡Qué logro tan increíble! ¡Lo has logrado!What an incredible achievement! You did it!
Example conversation
Two scientists are discussing their latest research results in a lab.
- ElenaDaniel, creo que finalmente tuvimos un gran avance.Daniel, I think we finally had a breakthrough.
- Daniel¡De verdad! ¿Funcionó la nueva fórmula?Really! Did the new formula work?
- ElenaSí, los datos confirman este gran avance.Yes, the data confirms this breakthrough.
- DanielEsto cambiará todo nuestro proyecto, Elena.This will change our whole project, Elena.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “breakthrough” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries adelanto, avance, considerable, gran, grosso, logro, progreso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
