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realidad

rre-ah-lee-DAHDrealiˈdad

“realidad” means “reality” in Spanish (The state of things as they actually exist).

reality

Also: truth, actuality
NounfA2
A massive, sturdy oak tree with deep, visible roots anchoring it firmly in rich brown soil under a bright, clear sky.

📝 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

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.

🔀 Commonly Confused With

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "realidad" in Spanish:

actuality→reality→truth→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: realidad

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'actually' in Spanish?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Late Latin word 'realitas', which itself comes from 'res', meaning 'thing' or 'affair'. It's related to the word 'real', meaning 'real' or 'actual'. So, 'realidad' is literally 'the quality of being a real thing'.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: realityFrench: réalitéItalian: realtàPortuguese: realidade

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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.