📝 In Action
Esta es una historia real, no es una película.
A2This is a real story, it's not a movie.
En la vida real, las cosas son más complicadas.
B1In real life, things are more complicated.
¿Cuál es el costo real del proyecto?
B1What is the actual cost of the project?
💡 Grammar Points
Where It Goes in a Sentence
Like most descriptive words in Spanish, 'real' usually comes after the thing it's describing. For example, you say 'una historia real' (a story real), not 'una real historia'.
Stays the Same for Masculine and Feminine
Good news! 'Real' doesn't change its ending for masculine or feminine things. It's 'un problema real' (a real problem) and 'una situación real' (a real situation). You just add an '-es' for plural things: 'problemas reales'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'realizar' with 'to realize'
Mistake: "Using 'realizar' when you mean you became aware of something, like 'Yo realicé que era tarde.'"
Correction: To say you 'realized' something in your head, use 'darse cuenta de'. The correct sentence is 'Me di cuenta de que era tarde.' The verb 'realizar' means to carry out or accomplish something.
⭐ Usage Tips
Adding Emphasis
If you really want to stress that something is real, you can add 'de verdad' (truly, for real) after it. 'Este es un problema real, de verdad.' (This is a real problem, for real.)
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: real
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'real' to mean 'royal'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if 'real' means 'real' or 'royal'?
Context is everything! If it's describing a problem, a story, or a situation, it almost always means 'actual' or 'real'. If it's part of a proper name like *Palacio Real* or *Real Madrid*, or describes something connected to a king or queen, it means 'royal'.
Why is it 'Real Madrid' and not 'Madrid Real'?
Great question! While most Spanish adjectives come after the noun, 'real' meaning 'royal' is an exception when it's part of an official title. It's a bit like saying 'The Royal Palace' in English instead of 'The Palace Royal'. It just sounds more official that way.
Is 'real' related to the English word 'realize'?
Not in the way you might think! To 'realize' something in your mind (to become aware) is *darse cuenta* in Spanish. The Spanish verb *realizar* means 'to carry out,' 'to accomplish,' or 'to make something real.' It's a classic 'false friend' that tricks many English speakers!