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hipotético

ee-po-TEH-tee-koh/ipoˈtetiko/

“hipotético” means “hypothetical” in Spanish (situations or ideas based on a theory or guess rather than reality).

hypothetical

Also: supposed
A young child looking at a simple cardboard box and imagining a shimmering, translucent castle floating above it.

📝 In Action

Hablemos de un caso hipotético para entender el problema.

B1

Let's talk about a hypothetical case to understand the problem.

En un escenario hipotético, ¿qué harías tú?

B1

In a hypothetical scenario, what would you do?

Es solo un planteamiento hipotético, no te preocupes.

B2

It's just a hypothetical proposal, don't worry.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • supuesto (supposed)
  • imaginario (imaginary)
  • teórico (theoretical)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • caso hipotético – hypothetical case
  • pregunta hipotética – hypothetical question
  • en el supuesto hipotético – in the hypothetical event

Idioms & Expressions

  • en el hipotético caso de que... – used to introduce an unlikely or imaginary 'what if' situation

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: hipotético

Question 1 of 3

How do you say 'a hypothetical situation' in Spanish?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
hipótesis(hypothesis) — Noun
hipotéticamente(hypothetically) — Adverb
hipotetizar(to hypothesize) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
atléticoestéticopoético
📚 Etymology▼

From Ancient Greek 'hypothetikos', which means 'based on a foundation or proposal'. It came into Spanish via Latin.

First recorded: 18th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: hypotheticalFrench: hypothétiqueItalian: ipotetico

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'hipotético' very formal?

It is a bit more sophisticated than daily words like 'falso' or 'imaginado', but it is very common in office meetings, news reports, and school settings.

What's the difference between 'hipotético' and 'supuesto'?

'Hipotético' usually refers to a theoretical scenario, while 'supuesto' often refers to something that is believed to be true but not confirmed (like a 'supposed' thief).

Do I need the 'h' in 'hipotético'?

Yes, in Spanish the 'h' is always silent, but it is required for spelling. Think of it as a silent helper at the beginning of the word!