prolijo
detailed
Prolijo is a Spanish adjective with two main meanings, depending on context and region:
-
Excessively detailed or lengthy
This is the common usage in many Spanish-speaking countries. When someone or something is described as prolijo, it means that they provide too many details, making the explanation, text, or speech long-winded, verbose, or overly elaborate. It can have a somewhat negative connotation, implying unnecessary or tiresome excess.- Example: El informe es muy prolijo y difícil de leer. ("The report is very prolix and hard to read.")
Synonyms: detallista, minucioso, extenso, verboso
Antonyms: conciso, breve, sucinto -
Neat, careful, or meticulous
In some countries like Argentina and Uruguay, prolijo also means that a person is very tidy, careful, and thorough in how they do things, highlighting precision and neatness.- Example: Es muy prolijo en su trabajo. ("He is very meticulous/neat in his work.")
Synonyms: ordenado, cuidadoso, meticuloso, limpio
Antonyms: descuidado, desordenado, apresurado
Etymology
Prolijo comes from Latin proligare, related to ligare (to bind) and the preposition pro- (forward or thorough), which ties to the idea of covering something thoroughly or at length.
Summary
| Meaning | Description | Tone | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excessively detailed | Long-winded, overly elaborate explanations | Often negative | Un texto prolijo (a long text) |
| Neat/meticulous | Careful, tidy, thoroughly done | Positive | Un trabajo prolijo (a neat job) |
Understanding the meaning depends on the context and regional usage.
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Examples
Él escribió un informe muy prolijo para la reunión.adjective
He wrote a very detailed report for the meeting.
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