Improve your English vocabulary: Better words than "BIG"

Hey, guys. I'm Alex. Thanks for clicking, and welcome to this vocabulary lesson on the

word: "big". Today, we are going to look at 10 synonyms for this very common, often overused

word. So if you're tired of describing things using the same adjectives again and again,

specifically the word: "big", today, we're going to look at 10 other ways you can do

that just so you have some variety in your speech. Now, we're also going to focus on

the pronunciation of these words because that's also important in speech. So let's get to it.

At the top, I have two sentences, you know, where you could use the word: "big". So the

first one says:

"That's a", or: "an", depending on if it's a consonant or vowel. If it's the word: "big",

we would say: "That's a big building!" Or: "They made a big amount of money!" That doesn't

sound as good I guess, but I would say: "a large amount of money", probably sounds better

in that case.

So let's look at some words that we can use in place of the word: "big" in these contexts.

First, we have, very simple, the word: "large", which you might hear, you know, if you go

to a fast-food restaurant and order a drink or something like that. So you can say: "That's

a large building!" Very basic.

Second one we have is: "huge". So this one you really have to stretch your "u" sound

in "huge", "huge". Not: "huge" or: "hudge". It's: "huge". So make sure you're stretching

it. And you can imagine... You see my hands going like this, I naturally want to this

when I... When I say that word "huge" just because it makes me think of something very,

very large.

So, the next one, I know this word exists in other languages in different forms, it's:

"gigantic". Okay? So it's not: "gigantic", it's: "gi", "gigantic". All right? So you

can say: "They made a gigantic amount of money!" Whether this is a recording studio or something

like that.

Next word: "enormous". Now, this one has two acceptable pronunciations that you might hear

on the street. Some people say: "enormous", so you can say: "enormous". Some people, like

myself, we say: "e", "enormous", "enormous". Okay?

Next one we have: "massive". So this one, you really have to open up your mouth like:

"ma", "massive". And again, it's not: "massive". It's: "massive", "massive". All right?

Five more to go, and we're going to do the pronunciation on these ones now. So first

one: "immense", "immense". Not... You could say: "immense" as well, this is another one

that has two possible pronunciations, so: "immense" or: "immense".

This one: "colossal". So you think of a giant colossus with one eye like a gigantic monster,

a colossal building. Or you can say: "I have a colossal headache", if your head hurts a

lot. All right?

"Mammoth", this comes, again, from the giant two-tusked animal. So you think of a mammoth

as being a large creature, you can also say: "a mammoth building", or: "a mammoth headache",

or: "a mammoth lunch", if you eat a lot.

Next one: "monstrous". So think of a monster, a gigantic, scary monster.

And finally, we have, if you... You know, you're a comic book reader, you might be familiar

with the Hulk, so this one is: "hulking". So think of the Hulk when you say: "hulking".

So a hulking building or a hulking amount of money - just very, very powerful, large,

strong.

Okay, one more time, I just want you guys to listen and repeat with me for the pronunciation.

Okay? So from the top, everyone listen and repeat: "large", "huge", "gigantic", "enormous"

or: "enormous", "massive", "immense" or: "immense", "colossal", "mammoth". Make sure you get that

"th", "mammoth". One more time: "mammoth". Okay. "Monstrous", and again, make sure you

get that final "s", "monstrous". And finally: "hulking".

So if you want to test your understanding of this material, specifically, I'm going

to be focusing on the spelling in the quiz. Make sure you know how to spell these words,

as well as pronounce them. You can check out the quiz on www.engvid.com to do that. And

don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel and every other engVid teacher's YouTube channel

because where else can you get free, good English lessons online? I guess many places,

but not the way we do them here. So, guys, I'll see you next time.