Adjective
/ˈbɾa.βa/
In Cuban Spanish, "brava" describes a person, particularly a woman, as courageous, bold, or fierce. It can also refer to someone displaying anger or intensity, such as being upset or irritable. The term is commonly used in both oral and written contexts, but it tends to be more prevalent in conversational speech, especially in dynamic contexts where emotions or personalities are being described.
Ella es una mujer muy brava, siempre defiende sus ideas.
She is a very brave woman; she always defends her ideas.
La situación se volvió brava cuando comenzaron a discutir.
The situation became intense when they started to argue.
No te dejes intimidar por sus palabras; es solo una forma de ser brava.
Don't let her words intimidate you; it's just a way of being fierce.
The word "brava" is also part of several idiomatic expressions in Cuban Spanish that emphasize courage or intensity.
Estar brava como una leona.
To be fierce like a lioness.
La profesora se puso brava como una leona al ver que no habíamos hecho la tarea.
The teacher became fierce like a lioness when she saw that we hadn’t done our homework.
No hay que ser tan brava.
There's no need to be so tough.
A veces, no hay que ser tan brava, solo hay que ser paciente.
Sometimes, there's no need to be so tough; you just have to be patient.
Estar brava con alguien.
To be angry with someone.
Mi hermana está brava con su novio por no haberla llamado.
My sister is angry with her boyfriend for not calling her.
La vida te pone brava.
Life makes you tough.
A veces, la vida te pone brava, pero siempre debes seguir adelante.
Sometimes, life makes you tough, but you must always keep moving forward.
The word "brava" comes from the Latin "bravus," meaning aggressive or bold. Over the years, it has evolved in various Spanish languages to embody characteristics of strength and fierceness, often associated with courage and spiritedness.