alto
for a man
In Mexico "tall" is alto for a man or a thing and alta for a woman. The same adjective describes buildings, trees and people. It is also called Altote.
Meaning: of great height (adjective)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| alto | for a man |
| Alta | for a woman |
| Altote | very tall, casual |
For a very tall person people say muy alto or the casual altote. For a tall person in a friendly way, está grandote is also heard, but it means big in general.
How does it change in a sentence?
The ending agrees with the noun: un hombre alto, una mujer alta, los edificios altos.
Did you know?
- Spanish uses alto for height and also for loud sound, as in música alta.
Examples in context
- Mi papá es muy alto.My dad is very tall.
- Su hermana es alta y delgada.His sister is tall and thin.
- Ese edificio es el más alto de la ciudad.That building is the tallest in the city.
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel talk about a friend before meeting him in Puebla.
- Sofía¿Cómo es tu primo?What is your cousin like?
- DanielEs muy alto y usa lentes.He is very tall and wears glasses.
- SofíaAh, ya lo vi, es ese de allá.Oh, I see him, that is the one over there.
