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A2 adjective #1,500 am häufigsten 8 Min. Lesezeit

grave

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Erklärung grave in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should know 'grave' as a word for 'serious' or 'very bad'. It is often used to talk about health or big problems. For example, if you are sick and go to the doctor, the doctor might say 'No es grave' to tell you it is just a small cold and not a big problem. You can also use it for mistakes in class. If you write 'yo comer' instead of 'yo como', it is a mistake, but it is not a 'grave' mistake. It is a simple word that stays the same for boys and girls (masculine and feminine). You just add an 's' to make it plural: 'problemas graves'. Remember, it does NOT mean a place where people are buried (that is 'tumba'). Just think of it as a stronger version of 'malo' (bad). Use it when you want to show that something is important and needs attention. It is a very useful word to understand news or when someone is talking about their health. Even at this basic level, knowing 'grave' helps you distinguish between a small issue and a big one.

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At the A2 level, you begin to see 'grave' in more specific contexts. You will learn that it describes things that have a lot of 'weight' or importance. You might hear it in the phrase 'estado grave' when someone is in the hospital. This is a very common expression in Spanish-speaking countries. You also start to learn about 'palabras graves'. In Spanish grammar, these are words where the voice is stronger on the second-to-last syllable, like 'casa' or 'mesa'. Most Spanish words are 'graves'. You should also notice that 'grave' is used with the verb 'ser' for things that are always serious (like a crime) and 'estar' for things that are serious right now (like an illness). For example, 'El robo es un delito grave' (Stealing is a serious crime) vs. 'El paciente está grave' (The patient is in serious condition). This distinction is important for your progress. You can also use 'grave' to describe a deep voice. If a man has a very low, deep voice, you say 'Tiene una voz grave'. This is the opposite of 'agudo' (high-pitched).

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'grave' to express severity in a variety of social and professional situations. You will use it to discuss social issues, such as 'la grave crisis económica' or 'el grave problema de la contaminación'. At this stage, you should also be familiar with the adverbial form 'gravemente'. For example, 'El conductor resultó gravemente herido'. This allows you to describe how an action happened with more precision. You will also encounter 'grave' in more abstract ways, such as 'una grave ofensa' (a serious insult) or 'una grave responsabilidad' (a heavy responsibility). It is important to distinguish 'grave' from 'serio'. While 'serio' can describe a person's demeanor (someone who doesn't smile), 'grave' describes the critical nature of a situation. If you say 'un hombre grave', it sounds like he is very ill or very solemn, whereas 'un hombre serio' just means he is responsible or not playful. You should also start using 'grave' in your writing to provide a more formal tone than 'muy malo' or 'importante'.

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At the B2 level, you are expected to understand the nuances of 'grave' in legal, medical, and technical contexts. You should recognize it in formal reports, such as 'negligencia grave' (gross negligence) or 'pronóstico grave' (serious prognosis). You will also see it used in literature to describe a 'semblante grave' (a somber or solemn countenance), indicating a character's internal state of worry or dignity. In linguistics, you will deeply understand the rules of 'palabras graves' and when they require a written accent (tilde). This is crucial for advanced writing. You should also be able to use the noun form 'gravedad' fluently. For example, 'No te das cuenta de la gravedad del asunto' (You don't realize the gravity of the matter). At this level, you can use 'grave' to describe musical registers and acoustic properties with confidence. You might also encounter the phrase 'de carácter grave', which is a formal way to categorize the nature of an event. Your ability to switch between 'grave', 'crítico', and 'severo' should be refined, choosing the word that best fits the specific context of your conversation or essay.

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At the C1 level, 'grave' becomes a tool for precise expression in complex discourse. You will use it to discuss philosophical or ethical 'graves dilemas'. You should be aware of its use in historical contexts, such as 'grave' meaning solemn or dignified in older texts. In legal Spanish, you will distinguish between 'faltas graves' and 'faltas muy graves', which have specific statutory meanings. You will also appreciate the use of 'grave' in rhetoric to add weight to an argument. For instance, 'Es de una gravedad extrema que se ignoren los derechos humanos'. You should be able to identify the 'acento grave' in other Romance languages while knowing it doesn't exist in Spanish orthography, yet still using the term 'grave' for phonological stress patterns. Your understanding of the word's Latin roots (*gravis*) will help you connect it to other words like 'gravamen' (tax/burden) or 'agravio' (offense). You can use 'grave' to describe the 'tono grave' of a speech, implying not just pitch, but a sense of authority and importance. Your usage should reflect a sophisticated grasp of how 'weight' (both physical and metaphorical) is expressed in Spanish.

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At the C2 level, you possess a near-native mastery of 'grave' and its entire semantic field. You can navigate the most subtle distinctions in academic or professional settings. You might discuss the 'grave' (solemn) nature of a state funeral or the 'registro grave' of an operatic singer with technical precision. You understand the historical evolution of the word from its physical meaning of 'heavy' to its current multifaceted applications. You can use 'grave' in high-level legal analysis to discuss 'atenuantes' (mitigating factors) versus 'agravantes' (aggravating factors), the latter being directly related to the concept of 'gravedad'. In your writing, you use 'grave' to evoke specific moods, perhaps describing a 'silencio grave' that hangs in a room after a shocking revelation. You are also aware of regional variations in how 'grave' might be used colloquially, though it remains a remarkably stable word across the Spanish-speaking world. Your ability to use the word in idioms, though rare, is perfect, and you can explain the phonological implications of 'graves' vs. 'agudas' in the evolution of the Spanish language. You treat 'grave' not just as a word for 'serious', but as a fundamental concept of weight and significance in the Spanish linguistic consciousness.

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Grave means serious or severe, often used for health, problems, or deep sounds.
It is a common adjective that does not change for gender (masculine/feminine).
In grammar, it refers to words stressed on the penultimate syllable.
It is a false friend; it does NOT mean 'tomb' in Spanish.

The Spanish word grave is a versatile adjective that primarily denotes a high degree of intensity, weight, or seriousness. Derived from the Latin gravis, meaning 'heavy,' it carries that ancestral weight into modern Spanish, applying it to health, legal matters, social situations, and even acoustics. When you describe something as grave, you are signaling that it is not to be taken lightly; it is the opposite of leve (light/minor).

Medical Context: In a clinical setting, grave refers to a patient whose condition is critical or life-threatening. It is the standard term used in news reports and hospital updates to indicate a precarious state of health.

El cirujano confirmó que la herida es grave y requiere cirugía inmediata.

Example: The surgeon confirmed the wound is serious and requires immediate surgery.

Acoustic Context: Musically and phonetically, grave describes low-pitched sounds or deep voices. It is the antonym of agudo (high-pitched).

Beyond these, it appears in linguistics to describe 'palabras graves' (words stressed on the penultimate syllable) and in law to describe 'delitos graves' (felonies or serious crimes). Its semantic range is vast, covering everything from the tone of a bass guitar to the severity of a global crisis. Understanding grave requires recognizing the 'weight' of the subject matter.

Tiene una voz muy grave que impone respeto.

Linguistic Context: Spanish classifies words by their stress. Palabras graves (also known as llanas) are the most common in the language, ending in a vowel, 'n', or 's' without a written accent.

Cometer un error grave en el examen le costó la beca.

El cambio climático es un problema grave que requiere acción global.

La situación económica se ha vuelto grave tras la caída de la bolsa.

Using grave correctly involves understanding its placement and the verbs it pairs with. In Spanish, adjectives often follow the noun, and grave is no exception when it describes a quality. However, the choice between ser and estar is crucial for nuance. Use ser for inherent characteristics (a serious crime) and estar for temporary or resulting states (a patient being in serious condition).

With Ser vs. Estar: 'Es grave' implies the nature of the thing is serious (e.g., 'Es un pecado grave'). 'Está grave' usually refers to health status (e.g., 'Mi abuelo está grave en el hospital').

La falta de agua es grave para la agricultura.

Pluralization: The plural is graves. Note that it does not change gender (it is the same for masculine and feminine nouns): 'problemas graves', 'situaciones graves'.

In formal writing, grave is preferred over more colloquial terms like 'malo' or 'feo' when discussing consequences. It adds a layer of professional solemnity. For instance, in a business report, you would say 'consecuencias graves' rather than 'consecuencias malas'.

No es nada grave, solo un pequeño rasguño.

Adverbial Form: To say 'seriously,' you use gravemente. Example: 'Resultó gravemente herido' (He was seriously injured).

El paciente sigue grave pero estable.

Es una grave infracción de las normas.

Su tono de voz se volvió grave al hablar del futuro.

You will encounter grave in several distinct environments. In the news (el telediario), it is ubiquitous. Reporters use it to describe the 'estado de salud' of public figures or the 'gravedad' of natural disasters. In a hospital, doctors use it to categorize the urgency of a patient's condition. In a music conservatory, you'll hear it referring to the lower registers of instruments like the cello or double bass.

In the Courtroom: Judges and lawyers use grave to classify crimes. A 'delito grave' is a serious offense that carries heavy penalties, as opposed to a 'falta' or 'delito leve'.

El juez dictaminó que fue una negligencia grave.

In Literature: Authors use grave to set a somber mood. A character might speak with a 'semblante grave' (serious face) to show they are troubled or contemplating something profound.

In everyday conversation, it's often used in the negative to reassure someone: 'No es grave' (It's not serious). This is common when someone apologizes for a minor mistake or when a child has a small fall. It functions as a way to de-escalate tension.

Escuchamos un sonido grave que venía del sótano.

In Education: Teachers explain the rules of accentuation using palabras graves. Students learn that 'casa' and 'perro' are graves because their stress is on the penultimate syllable.

La sequía ha provocado una grave crisis alimentaria.

El barítono tiene un registro muy grave.

Es grave que no hayas entregado el informe a tiempo.

The most frequent mistake for English speakers is treating grave as a noun meaning 'tomb' or 'burial site'. In Spanish, a tomb is una tumba or una sepultura. Grave is strictly an adjective (or a linguistic term). Another common error is using ser when estar is required for health. Saying 'Él es grave' suggests he is a serious person by nature, whereas 'Él está grave' means he is critically ill.

The False Friend Trap: English: 'I visited the grave.' -> Spanish: 'Visité la tumba.' (NOT 'Visité la grave'). Spanish: 'Es un asunto grave.' -> English: 'It's a serious matter.'

No digas 'él es grave' si quieres decir que está enfermo.

Confusion with 'Serio': While serio and grave overlap, serio often refers to personality (a person who doesn't laugh much), while grave refers to the weight of a situation or health.

Learners also struggle with the plural form. Remember that adjectives ending in 'e' simply add 's'. It does not matter if the noun is feminine or masculine. 'Las situaciones graves' and 'los problemas graves' are both correct. Don't try to change the 'e' to 'a' for feminine nouns.

Cometí un error grave al confundir las palabras.

Overusing 'Grave': Sometimes grave is too strong. If you just mean 'bad' or 'unpleasant', use malo or desagradable. Grave implies potential disaster or deep significance.

La falta de respeto es una ofensa grave en esta cultura.

No es una enfermedad grave, te recuperarás pronto.

El bajo tiene un sonido muy grave.

Spanish has several words that touch upon the meaning of grave, but each has its own specific 'flavor'. Understanding these nuances will make your Spanish sound more natural and precise. The most common synonyms are serio, severo, crítico, and profundo.

Grave vs. Serio: Serio is more general. A person can be seria (serious personality), but a situation is grave (dangerous/weighty). You can have a 'serio problema', but a 'grave problema' sounds more urgent.

Es un asunto serio, pero no llega a ser grave.

Grave vs. Severo: Severo often implies strictness or harshness (e.g., 'un castigo severo'). Grave implies the weight or danger of the condition itself.

In medical contexts, crítico is one step above grave. If a patient is 'grave', they are very ill; if they are 'crítico', they are at immediate risk of death. In music, bajo is often used instead of grave for voices, though grave is the more technical term for the register.

El clima severo causó daños graves.

Grave vs. Profundo: When talking about voices, profundo (deep) and grave are often interchangeable, but grave is the standard acoustic term.

Su estado pasó de grave a estable en pocas horas.

Es una grave equivocación pensar que es fácil.

El violonchelo produce notas muy graves.

How Formal Is It?

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Wichtige Grammatik

Adjective-Noun agreement

Ser vs. Estar with adjectives

Rules of Spanish accentuation (Acentuación de palabras llanas)

Adverb formation with -mente

Subjunctive after expressions of emotion/judgment (Es grave que...)

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Beispiele nach Niveau

Tengo un problema grave.

I have a serious problem.

Adjective follows the noun.

No es grave, es solo un resfriado.

It's not serious, it's just a cold.

Negative construction 'No es'.

Él cometió un error grave.

He made a serious mistake.

Masculine noun 'error'.

La situación es grave.

The situation is serious.

Feminine noun 'situación'.

Mi perro no está grave.

My dog is not in serious condition.

Use of 'estar' for health.

Hay problemas graves en la ciudad.

There are serious problems in the city.

Plural form 'graves'.

Es una falta grave.

It is a serious fault/foul.

Feminine article 'una'.

Su voz es muy grave.

His voice is very deep.

Use of 'muy' as an intensifier.

El paciente está grave en el hospital.

The patient is in serious condition at the hospital.

Estar + grave = health status.

'Casa' es una palabra grave.

'Casa' is a word stressed on the penultimate syllable.

Linguistic terminology.

Fue un accidente muy grave.

It was a very serious accident.

Adjective modifying 'accidente'.

No es nada grave, no te preocupes.

It's nothing serious, don't worry.

Pronoun 'nada' + adjective.

El médico tiene un tono grave.

The doctor has a serious tone.

Describing tone of voice.

Es una enfermedad grave pero tratable.

It is a serious but treatable disease.

Contrast using 'pero'.

Las consecuencias serán graves.

The consequences will be serious.

Future tense 'serán'.

Escuché un ruido grave en la noche.

I heard a low-pitched noise at night.

Describing sound pitch.

El conductor resultó gravemente herido.

The driver was seriously injured.

Adverb 'gravemente'.

La sequía es un problema grave para el país.

Drought is a serious problem for the country.

Preposition 'para' indicating impact.

Cometiste una grave infracción de tráfico.

You committed a serious traffic violation.

Adjective before noun for emphasis.

Su semblante se puso grave al oír la noticia.

His face became serious upon hearing the news.

Verb 'ponerse' for change in state.

Es grave que no digas la verdad.

It is serious that you aren't telling the truth.

Subjunctive mood follows 'Es grave que'.

El violonchelo tiene un sonido más grave que el violín.

The cello has a deeper sound than the violin.

Comparative 'más... que'.

La crisis provocó una grave falta de suministros.

The crisis caused a serious lack of supplies.

Noun phrase 'falta de suministros'.

No le des tanta importancia, no es tan grave.

Don't give it so much importance, it's not that serious.

Adverb 'tan' for degree.

El delito fue calificado como grave por el juez.

The crime was classified as serious by the judge.

Passive voice 'fue calificado'.

Las palabras graves llevan tilde si no terminan en n, s o vocal.

Penultimate-stressed words have an accent if they don't end in n, s, or a vowel.

Specific linguistic rule.

Se encuentra en estado grave con pronóstico reservado.

He is in serious condition with a guarded prognosis.

Formal medical terminology.

La contaminación del aire ha alcanzado niveles graves.

Air pollution has reached serious levels.

Present perfect 'ha alcanzado'.

Es una grave responsabilidad liderar este proyecto.

It is a heavy responsibility to lead this project.

Abstract use of 'grave'.

Su voz grave resonaba en toda la catedral.

His deep voice resonated throughout the cathedral.

Descriptive adjective.

Hubo una grave negligencia en el mantenimiento del edificio.

There was gross negligence in the building's maintenance.

Impersonal 'hubo'.

La situación económica se agravó durante el invierno.

The economic situation worsened during the winter.

Verb 'agravarse' derived from 'grave'.

El país atraviesa una coyuntura política grave.

The country is going through a serious political juncture.

Sophisticated vocabulary 'coyuntura'.

La vulneración de derechos es un asunto de extrema gravedad.

The violation of rights is a matter of extreme gravity.

Noun form 'gravedad'.

El barítono destacó por su registro grave y potente.

The baritone stood out for his deep and powerful register.

Technical musical description.

Resulta grave que se ignore la evidencia científica.

It is serious that scientific evidence is ignored.

Impersonal 'resulta' + adjective.

Sus palabras, de un tono grave y solemne, conmovieron al público.

His words, in a serious and solemn tone, moved the audience.

Appositive phrase.

La empresa enfrenta una grave crisis de reputación.

The company faces a serious reputation crisis.

Business context.

El acento grave no se utiliza en la ortografía española actual.

The grave accent is not used in current Spanish orthography.

Historical/Comparative linguistics.

Se cometió un error de bulto, realmente grave para el proceso.

A glaring error was made, truly serious for the process.

Idiom 'error de bulto'.

La gravedad del ultraje exigía una disculpa pública inmediata.

The gravity of the insult demanded an immediate public apology.

High-level noun usage.

Su voz, de una tesitura excepcionalmente grave, es única.

His voice, of an exceptionally deep tessitura, is unique.

Technical vocal term 'tesitura'.

La sentencia subraya la naturaleza grave y dolosa del acto.

The sentence emphasizes the serious and intentional nature of the act.

Legal terminology 'dolosa'.

El silencio se tornó grave, casi tangible, en la habitación.

The silence became heavy, almost tangible, in the room.

Literary use of 'tornarse'.

No podemos soslayar la grave tesitura en la que nos hallamos.

We cannot overlook the serious situation in which we find ourselves.

Sophisticated verb 'soslayar'.

La distinción entre delitos graves y menos graves es fundamental.

The distinction between serious and less serious crimes is fundamental.

Legal classification.

El poema fluye con un ritmo grave que evoca la muerte.

The poem flows with a solemn rhythm that evokes death.

Literary analysis.

La falta de ética en la investigación es un hecho grave e intolerable.

The lack of ethics in the research is a serious and intolerable fact.

Ethical/Academic context.

Häufige Kollokationen

estado grave

delito grave

error grave

problema grave

voz grave

consecuencias graves

falta grave

enfermedad grave

crisis grave

daño grave

Häufige Phrasen

de carácter grave

palabra grave

ponerse grave

nada grave

gravemente herido

asunto grave

lesión grave

ofensa grave

negligencia grave

pronóstico grave

Wird oft verwechselt mit

grave vs tumba (the noun 'grave' in English)

grave vs serio (personality vs. situation)

grave vs gratis (sounds similar)

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"no ser nada del otro mundo (often contrasted with grave)"

"palabras mayores (related to grave situations)"

"caer por su propio peso (related to gravity/seriousness)"

"estar entre la vida y la muerte (extreme state of being grave)"

"tomar cartas en el asunto (action for grave problems)"

"no ser para tanto (it's not that grave)"

"poner el grito en el cielo (reaction to something grave)"

"ser harina de otro costal (a different, perhaps more grave, matter)"

"jugar con fuego (leading to grave consequences)"

"costar un ojo de la cara (a grave expense)"

Leicht verwechselbar

grave vs tumba

The physical place where someone is buried.

grave vs serio

Refers more to demeanor or personality.

grave vs severo

Refers to strictness or harshness of punishment.

grave vs agudo

The opposite (high-pitched or sharp).

grave vs leve

The opposite (minor or light).

Satzmuster

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So verwendest du es

medical nuance

Grave is serious, but 'muy grave' or 'crítico' is worse.

linguistic synonym

In grammar, 'grave' and 'llana' are the same thing.

Häufige Fehler

Don't use 'grave' as a noun for 'tomb'.
Use 'estar' for temporary health conditions.
Problem is masculine (un problema).
Grave does not change to 'grava' for feminine nouns.
Spanish only uses the acute accent (´), not the grave accent (`).

Tipps

False Friend Alert

Always remember: Grave (English noun) = Tumba (Spanish). Grave (Spanish adjective) = Serious (English).

Ser vs Estar

Use 'ser' for the nature of a problem and 'estar' for the health of a person.

The Soft V

Practice the 'v' in grave as a soft 'b' to sound more like a native speaker.

Formal Tone

Use 'grave' in essays to describe significant social or economic issues for a more academic feel.

News Context

When you hear 'grave' on the news, pay attention—it usually means something very important is happening.

Bass and Cello

Think of the 'grave' register in music to remember it also means 'low-pitched'.

Penultimate Stress

Remember that 'grave' words are the 'default' stress pattern in Spanish.

Gravity

Link 'grave' to 'gravity' to remember the concept of 'weight' and 'seriousness'.

No es grave

Use this phrase to comfort friends when they make a small mistake.

Delito Grave

In a legal context, this always means a felony or a high-level crime.

Einprägen

Wortherkunft

Latin 'gravis'

Kultureller Kontext

News anchors use 'grave' to maintain a neutral but urgent reporting style.

The term 'palabra grave' is taught to every child in the Spanish-speaking world.

Use a 'tono grave' when discussing family matters or health to show empathy.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Gesprächseinstiege

"¿Crees que el cambio climático es el problema más grave hoy?"

"¿Alguna vez has tenido un accidente grave?"

"¿Te gusta la música con sonidos muy graves?"

"¿Es grave llegar tarde en tu cultura?"

"¿Qué haces cuando tienes un problema grave?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Describe a time you made a grave mistake and what you learned.

Write about a serious (grave) problem in your city.

How does a 'voz grave' change how you perceive a person?

Discuss the 'gravedad' of keeping secrets in a relationship.

Reflect on the phrase 'No es grave'.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

No, that is a common mistake for English speakers. In Spanish, a burial place is 'una tumba'. 'Grave' is an adjective meaning serious or deep.

It is a word where the stress falls on the penultimate (second-to-last) syllable. Most Spanish words fall into this category.

Use 'estar grave' specifically when talking about someone's health status, usually in a hospital context.

It is invariable. It stays 'grave' for both masculine nouns (un problema grave) and feminine nouns (una situación grave).

The plural is 'graves'. You simply add an 's' to the end.

Yes, it describes low-pitched sounds or deep voices, like a bass guitar or a baritone singer.

Generally, yes. 'Grave' implies more weight, danger, or critical importance than 'serio'.

The adverb is 'gravemente'. For example, 'Está gravemente enfermo'.

For severity, the opposite is 'leve' (minor). For sound, the opposite is 'agudo' (high-pitched).

The word 'grave' itself does not have a written accent. However, 'palabras graves' may have one depending on their ending.

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