larga

Larga is the feminine singular form of the Spanish adjective largo, meaning long or lengthy. It describes feminine nouns and can refer to physical length, duration, or extent. Examples include una mesa larga (a long table), una vida larga (a long life), or una carretera larga (a long road). In phrases and idioms, its meaning is determined by context, from tangible size to abstract duration.

Origin and grammar: Larga derives from Latin longus via Old Spanish. The masculine form is largo; the feminine singular is larga, with plural largas for feminine nouns and largos for masculine nouns. Spanish adjectives generally agree with the noun in gender and number, and larga typically follows the noun, though it can occur before the noun in certain emphatic or fixed expressions.

Usage notes and examples: Una mesa larga uses the standard after-noun position; distancia larga or larga distancia are both possible, with la larga distancia often favored in fixed expressions. The idiom a la larga means “in the long run” or “eventually.” Other common collocations include vida larga, jornada larga, and carretera larga. The masculine counterpart is largo and its plural largos.

See also: Related adjectives in Spanish include largo as a masculine form and its comparative and superlative forms; cognates exist in other Romance languages, such as lungo in Italian and largo in Portuguese, reflecting a common Latin root.