Inklingo
← Dictionary

irreal

ee-rray-ahl/i.reˈal/

“irreal” means “unreal” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

unreal, imaginary

Also: fictitious
A floating island with a glowing purple tree and pink clouds in a starry sky.

📝 In Action

El paisaje de ese planeta era totalmente irreal.

A2

The landscape of 그 planet was totally unreal.

A veces tengo sueños que parecen muy reales, pero son irreales.

B1

Sometimes I have dreams that seem very real, but they are unreal.

Vivimos en un mundo irreal creado por las redes sociales.

B2

We live in an unreal world created by social media.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • imaginario (imaginary)
  • fantástico (fantastic/fantasy)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • mundo irreal – unreal world
  • personaje irreal – imaginary character

unrealistic

Also: impractical
A small child in a red shirt attempting to lift a massive, heavy grey boulder.

📝 In Action

Tu plan para terminar el libro en un día es irreal.

B1

Your plan to finish the book in a day is unrealistic.

Tienen unas expectativas irreales sobre el precio de la casa.

B2

They have some unrealistic expectations about the price of the house.

Sería irreal pensar que no habrá problemas.

C1

It would be unrealistic to think there won't be problems.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • poco realista (unrealistic)
  • quimérico (fanciful/utopian)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • expectativas irreales – unrealistic expectations
  • objetivo irreal – unrealistic goal

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "irreal" in Spanish:

fictitious→imaginary→impractical→unreal→unrealistic→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: irreal

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence is correct when talking about more than one unrealistic goal?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From Latin 'irrealis', combining 'in-' (not) and 'realis' (real). It entered Spanish as a way to describe things that exist only in thought.

First recorded: 17th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: unrealFrench: irréelPortuguese: irreal

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'irreal' change if the noun is feminine?

No. Words ending in '-al' like 'irreal' or 'ideal' use the same form for both masculine and feminine nouns. Example: 'un sueño irreal' and 'una idea irreal'.

What is the difference between 'irreal' and 'ficticio'?

'Irreal' is broader and can describe feelings, dreams, or unrealistic goals. 'Ficticio' is usually reserved for things in books, movies, or legal 'fictions' that are known to be invented.

How do you pronounce the double 'r' in 'irreal'?

It is a strong, trilled 'r' sound. Your tongue should tap the roof of your mouth several times, similar to the sound in 'perro'.