narrativa
“narrativa” means “narrative” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
narrative, fiction
Also: storytelling
📝 In Action
La narrativa de este autor es muy descriptiva.
B1This author's storytelling is very descriptive.
Estamos estudiando la narrativa española del siglo XX.
B2We are studying 20th-century Spanish fiction.
La estructura narrativa de la película es innovadora.
C1The movie's narrative structure is innovative.
narrative
Also: discourse
📝 In Action
Es difícil cambiar la narrativa política actual.
C1It is difficult to change the current political narrative.
La narrativa oficial ignora los problemas económicos.
C2The official narrative ignores the economic problems.
Ellos intentan imponer su propia narrativa de los hechos.
C1They are trying to impose their own narrative of the facts.
narrative
📝 In Action
La técnica narrativa es impecable.
B2The narrative technique is flawless.
Ella tiene una gran capacidad narrativa.
C1She has a great narrative ability.
Esta es una obra principalmente narrativa.
B2This is a primarily narrative work.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: narrativa
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence refers to the literary genre of fiction?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'narrativus,' which comes from 'narrare' (to tell or make known). It shares roots with the word 'knowing' because to narrate is to make someone else know what happened.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'narrativa' the same as 'cuento'?
Not exactly. A 'cuento' is a single short story. 'Narrativa' is a broader term that refers to the whole genre of fiction or the specific style of an author.
Can I use 'narrativa' for a movie?
Yes! You can talk about the 'narrativa visual' (visual narrative) or the 'estructura narrativa' (narrative structure) of a film.
Why is it sometimes 'narrativo' and sometimes 'narrativa'?
If it's describing a noun (as an adjective), it changes to match: 'el estilo narrativo' (masculine) vs. 'la voz narrativa' (feminine). If it's a noun meaning 'the narrative,' it's always 'la narrativa.'