fiel
/fyél/
faithful
Fiel as an adjective means 'faithful' or 'loyal,' often used to describe someone dedicated to a person or cause.
fiel(Adjective)
faithful
?loyal to a person or cause
,loyal
?showing constant support
accurate
?describing a copy or description
,true
?remaining constant
📝 In Action
Mi perro es el animal más fiel que conozco.
A2My dog is the most faithful animal I know.
Hicieron una traducción fiel del documento original.
B1They made an accurate translation of the original document.
Ella fue una socia fiel de la empresa durante veinte años.
B2She was a loyal partner of the company for twenty years.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Invariability
Unlike many Spanish adjectives, 'fiel' has the same form whether describing a masculine thing ('el amigo fiel') or a feminine thing ('la amiga fiel').
Plural Form
To make 'fiel' plural, simply add '-es': 'fieles'. This applies to both masculine and feminine nouns (e.g., 'amigos fieles', 'copias fieles').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Fiel and Leal
Mistake: "Using 'leal' when referring to accuracy (e.g., 'una copia leal')."
Correction: Use 'fiel' when talking about accuracy or truthfulness (e.g., 'una copia fiel'). 'Leal' is reserved almost exclusively for loyalty to a person or group.
⭐ Usage Tips
Two Main Uses
Remember 'fiel' means both 'loyal' (for people) and 'accurate' or 'true' (for descriptions, copies, or translations). Context tells you which meaning is intended.
Fiel used as a noun translates to 'believer' or 'follower,' typically referring to someone who adheres to a religion or doctrine.
fiel(Noun)
believer
?religious follower
,the faithful
?plural, referring to a group of followers
follower
?a devoted supporter
📝 In Action
El sacerdote se dirigió a los fieles.
B2The priest addressed the faithful (believers).
Era un fiel de la antigua tradición.
C1He was a follower of the old tradition.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Fiel' as a Noun
When used as a noun, 'fiel' refers to a person. It uses the articles 'el' (masculine person) or 'la' (feminine person), but the word itself does not change: 'el fiel' or 'la fiel'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: fiel
Question 1 of 2
Which English word is the best translation for 'una copia fiel'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'fiel' masculine or feminine?
As an adjective, 'fiel' is invariable, meaning it stays the same whether describing a masculine or feminine noun (el amigo fiel, la amiga fiel). As a noun, it can refer to a man (el fiel) or a woman (la fiel).
What is the difference between 'fiel' and 'leal'?
Both mean 'loyal' or 'faithful' when talking about people. However, 'fiel' is also used to mean 'accurate' or 'exact' when describing objects or documents (like a copy or a translation), a meaning 'leal' does not have.