Inklingo
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A brightly colored, partially assembled jigsaw puzzle resting on a wooden surface. The puzzle is complete except for one small, final piece, showing that the task is virtually finished.

prácticamente

prak-ti-ka-MEN-teh

adverbB1
practically?virtually; almost entirely,virtually?in effect or reality
Also:in practice?in a practical sense

📝 In Action

Después de tres horas, el debate estaba prácticamente terminado.

B1

After three hours, the debate was practically finished.

La nueva ley es prácticamente idéntica a la anterior.

B2

The new law is virtually identical to the previous one.

Prácticamente toda la población asistió al evento.

B1

Practically the entire population attended the event.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • casi (almost)
  • virtualmente (virtually)
  • en la práctica (in practice)

Antonyms

  • formalmente (formally)
  • teóricamente (theoretically)

Common Collocations

  • prácticamente imposible – practically impossible
  • prácticamente nada – practically nothing

💡 Grammar Points

The -mente Adverb Pattern

This word is formed by adding the suffix '-mente' to the feminine form of the adjective (práctica). This is the easiest way to turn most Spanish adjectives into adverbs (words that describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing 'Practically' and 'In Practice'

Mistake: "Using 'de forma práctica' when you mean 'almost entirely.'"

Correction: Use 'prácticamente' for the meaning of 'almost' or 'virtually.' If you mean 'in a practical manner,' you might use 'de forma práctica' or 'con sentido práctico.'

⭐ Usage Tips

Placement is Flexible

You can usually place 'prácticamente' before or after the verb, or at the beginning of the sentence, depending on what you want to emphasize. It often works best right before the word it modifies (like an adjective or another adverb).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: prácticamente

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'prácticamente' to mean 'almost entirely'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

práctico(practical (adjective)) - adjective
la práctica(practice (noun)) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'prácticamente' and 'casi'?

Both mean 'almost,' but 'prácticamente' is stronger and often implies that something is true in effect, even if not technically. For example, 'Está casi terminado' means 'It's close to being done.' 'Está prácticamente terminado' means 'For all intents and purposes, it's done.'

Can I use 'prácticamente' to describe how I do things?

Yes, but this is less common. If you say, 'Hago mi trabajo prácticamente,' it means 'I do my work in a practical way.' However, it is much more frequently used to mean 'virtually' or 'almost.'