gigante dormido
/xiɡante doɾmido/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'sleeping giant' is translated into Spanish as gigante dormido.
The phrase refers to a person or organization that possesses great power but has not yet activated or used it.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the noun gigante (giant) and the past participle dormido (sleeping or asleep).
How do you pronounce it?
/xiɡante doɾmido/
Did you know?
- Unlike English, where 'sleeping' is a present participle, dormido is a past participle, meaning a 'sleeping giant' in Spanish is literally a 'giant who has fallen asleep'.
- The word dormido comes from the Latin 'dormire', the same root that gave English the word 'dormitory'.
- While gigante refers to size, Spanish uses the word coloso to describe a 'sleeping giant' when emphasizing an immovable or monumental power, such as a dormant volcano or a fallen empire.
Examples in context
- En esta negociación, debemos tener en cuenta al gigante dormido y su futura influencia.In this negotiation, we must be mindful of the sleeping giant and its future influence.
- La economía de ese país es un gigante dormido.The economy of that country is a sleeping giant.
- Esa empresa es un gigante dormido en el mercado.That company is a sleeping giant in the market.
- El gigante dormido finalmente despertó con la nueva tecnología.The sleeping giant finally woke up with the new technology.
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are discussing a new business competitor.
- ElenaMira que esa marca no ha hecho nada.Look, that brand hasn't done anything.
- AlejandroPero es un gigante dormido, Elena.But it is a sleeping giant, Elena.
- Elena¿Crees que lanzarán un producto pronto?Do you think they will launch a product soon?
- AlejandroSí, Alejandro cree que pronto despertarán.Yes, Alejandro thinks they will wake up soon.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
