relato
“relato” means “story” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
story, account
Also: short story, narrative
📝 In Action
Escribí un relato sobre mis vacaciones.
A2I wrote a story about my vacation.
El testigo dio un relato detallado del accidente.
B1The witness gave a detailed account of the accident.
Me encantan los relatos de misterio.
A2I love mystery stories.
I tell, I narrate
📝 In Action
Yo relato mis aventuras en mi blog.
B1I tell my adventures on my blog.
Siempre relato la misma historia en las fiestas.
B1I always tell the same story at parties.
En este libro, relato mi experiencia en la selva.
B2In this book, I recount my experience in the jungle.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: relato
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the best translation for 'un relato corto'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'relatum', which means 'brought back' or 'reported'. It describes the act of bringing information back to others in the form of a story.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'relato' the same as 'cuento'?
They are very similar! 'Cuento' is often used for fictional stories or children's tales. 'Relato' can be fiction, but it is also used for a factual account of something that happened.
Can I use 'relato' to mean a 'relationship'?
No. Even though they look similar, 'relationship' is 'relación'. A 'relato' is strictly a narrative or story.
How do I say 'to tell a story' using this word?
You would use the verb form: 'relatar una historia' or 'hacer un relato'.