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A massive, sturdy oak tree with deep, visible roots anchoring it firmly in rich brown soil under a bright, clear sky.

realidad

/rre-ah-lee-DAHD/

NounfA2
reality?The state of things as they actually exist
Also:truth?The true situation,actuality?The real state of affairs

📝 In Action

En realidad, no quiero ir a la fiesta.

A2

Actually, I don't want to go to the party.

A veces la realidad supera la ficción.

B1

Sometimes reality is stranger than fiction.

La realidad virtual es una tecnología increíble.

B1

Virtual reality is an incredible technology.

Tenemos que enfrentar la dura realidad de la situación.

B2

We have to face the harsh reality of the situation.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • existencia (existence)
  • verdad (truth)

Antonyms

  • fantasía (fantasy)
  • ficción (fiction)
  • sueño (dream)

Common Collocations

  • dura realidad – harsh reality
  • realidad virtual – virtual reality
  • volver a la realidad – to come back to reality
  • enfrentar la realidad – to face reality

Idioms & Expressions

  • en realidad – Used to say 'actually' or 'in fact', often to correct or clarify something.

💡 Grammar Points

Always Feminine

Words in Spanish that end in '-dad', like 'ciudad' (city) or 'universidad' (university), are almost always feminine. So, it's always 'la realidad' or 'una realidad'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'Actualmente' for 'Actually'

Mistake: "Parece fácil, pero actualmente es muy difícil."

Correction: Parece fácil, pero en realidad es muy difícil. Remember, 'actualmente' means 'currently' or 'nowadays', while the phrase 'en realidad' means 'actually' or 'in fact'.

⭐ Usage Tips

The Super-Useful Phrase 'En realidad'

Think of 'en realidad' as your go-to phrase for 'actually' or 'in fact'. It's perfect for correcting a misunderstanding or adding a surprising piece of information. For example: 'Pensé que era de España, pero en realidad es de Argentina.' (I thought he was from Spain, but actually he's from Argentina).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: realidad

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'actually' in Spanish?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

real(real, actual) - adjective
realmente(really, actually) - adverb
realizar(to carry out, to fulfill) - verb
realista(realistic, realist) - adjective/noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'realidad' and 'verdad'?

They can be similar, but 'realidad' refers to the state of existence (reality), while 'verdad' refers to the quality of being true (truth). You face 'la realidad' (reality), but you tell 'la verdad' (the truth).

Can I just say 'realmente' instead of 'en realidad'?

Sometimes! 'Realmente' means 'really' and can often be used like 'actually'. For example, 'Realmente no quiero ir' (I really don't want to go). However, 'en realidad' is better when you are correcting or contrasting information, just like 'in fact' or 'actually' in English.