ficticio
“ficticio” means “fictional” in Spanish (imaginary or part of a story).
fictional, fictitious
Also: imaginary, sham
📝 In Action
Sherlock Holmes es un personaje ficticio.
A2Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character.
La historia ocurre en un mundo ficticio.
B1The story takes place in a fictional world.
Usó un nombre ficticio para entrar al club.
B2He used a fictitious name to enter the club.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ficticio
Question 1 of 3
Which is the correct way to say 'fictional stories'?
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👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'ficticius', which comes from 'fictus' meaning 'shaped' or 'feigned'. It shares a root with the word 'fingir' (to pretend).
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'ficticio' always mean someone is lying?
Not necessarily! It often refers to creative works like novels or movies where being 'fictional' is expected and not considered a bad thing.
Can I use 'ficticio' to describe a person?
You can describe a 'character' (personaje) as ficticio, but you wouldn't call a real human 'ficticio' unless you are saying their public persona or identity is a total invention.
Is 'ficticio' used more in Spain or Latin America?
It is used equally and understood perfectly in all Spanish-speaking countries.