grave
/ˈɡɾabe/
The English word 'severe' is translated into Spanish as grave.
Grave is used to describe something that is very bad or intense. It is the standard term when discussing the seriousness of a situation, a problem or an illness. In medical and legal contexts, it is specifically used to describe serious conditions or offenses. Depending on the nuance you want to convey, you might also use synonyms such as intenso (intense), riguroso (rigorous) or drástico (drastic).
Meaning: very bad or intense (adj)
Which one should you use?
While severo is a direct cognate of the English word 'severe', grave is the preferred choice when you want to express that a situation, illness or problem is serious. Severo is typically reserved for more formal contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective grave must agree in number with the noun it modifies. For example, use graves when modifying plural nouns. To express the adverb 'severely', use the form gravemente.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɡɾabe/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, grave can describe a low-pitched voice or a musical note, similar to how 'grave' is used in English music theory.
- The Spanish word grave is a direct relative of the English word 'gravity'. Both stem from the Latin 'gravis', which originally referred to physical weight.
- The Spanish word severo is often considered a 'false friend' because, while it means 'severe' in English, it is frequently used in Spanish to mean 'strict' or 'harsh' regarding a person's character.
Examples in context
- No creí que la situación fuese tan grave.I didn't think the situation was so severe.This sentence shows how to describe the severity of a situation using grave.Tatoeba #8677577 by arh, translation #9189330 by DJ_Saidez
- La sequía perjudicó gravemente a la cosecha.The drought did severe damage to the harvest.This sentence demonstrates the use of the adverbial form gravemente to describe damage caused by a drought.Tatoeba #2470189 by teskmon, translation #281141 by CM
- Los síntomas de la abstinencia son más graves de lo que pensé.The withdrawal symptoms are more severe than I thought.This sentence illustrates the use of the plural form graves to describe symptoms.Tatoeba #1352527 by hayastan, translation #663739 by darinmex
- El huracán causó daños severos en la ciudad.The hurricane caused severe damage to the city.
- El paciente está en estado de dolor severo.The patient is in a state of severe pain.
- La sequía ha llevado a una grave crisis de agua en la región.The drought has led to a severe water crisis in the region.
- La enfermedad representa una amenaza grave para la salud pública.The illness poses a severe threat to public health.
- Hemos tenido una grave discusión sobre el tema.We have had a severe discussion about the topic.
- Ese golpe fue muy fuerte.That hit was very severe.
- Había una tormenta fuerte durante la noche.There was a severe storm during the night.
- Su crítica fue dura pero justa.His criticism was severe but fair.
- La vida en la selva puede ser realmente dura.Life in the jungle can be really severe.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a recent news report about a storm.
- JavierEl daño por la tormenta fue muy grave.The damage from the storm was very severe.
- MaríaSí, escuché que hubo inundaciones en todo el sector.Yes, I heard there were floods in the whole area.
- JavierEspero que no haya heridos.I hope there are no injuries.
- MaríaPor suerte, la mayoría de las casas están bien.Luckily, most of the houses are okay.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry grave, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries grave, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
