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A colorful storybook illustration showing two small, round dogs sitting side by side. They are identical in shape and size, but one dog is brown and the other is light gray, emphasizing their similarity.

similar

see-mee-LAR

adjectivem/fA1
similar?describing likeness,like?in the sense of resembling
Also:resembling?formal description,akin?close in nature

📝 In Action

Mi teléfono es muy similar al tuyo, pero el color es diferente.

A1

My phone is very similar to yours, but the color is different.

Las ideas de los dos candidatos son similares en muchos puntos.

A2

The two candidates' ideas are similar in many respects.

El sabor de esta fruta es similar a una manzana, aunque un poco más dulce.

B1

The flavor of this fruit is similar to an apple, although a little sweeter.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • algo similar – something similar
  • muy similar a – very similar to
  • situación similar – similar situation

💡 Grammar Points

Stays the Same for Gender

Unlike many Spanish adjectives, 'similar' is 'invariable' for gender, meaning it describes both masculine and feminine things without changing its ending (e.g., 'un coche similar' and 'una casa similar').

The Plural Form

To make 'similar' plural, you just add '-es': 'similares' (e.g., 'dos libros similares', 'varias ideas similares').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting 'a' when comparing

Mistake: "Esto es similar el otro."

Correction: Esto es similar al otro. (This is similar to the other one.) 'Similar' almost always needs the preposition 'a' (to/than) when comparing two things.

⭐ Usage Tips

Easy English Cognate

This word is a perfect 'cognate' (a word that looks and means the same in English and Spanish), making it easy to remember and use immediately.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: similar

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'similar' to describe two feminine nouns?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

similitud(similarity (noun)) - noun
similarmente(similarly (adverb)) - adverb

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'similar' change its ending for masculine and feminine nouns?

No, 'similar' is one of the adjectives that stays the same regardless of gender. You use 'similar' for both masculine and feminine words. It only changes when you make it plural (similares).

Is 'similar' used more often than 'parecido'?

Both are very common, but 'similar' is often preferred in slightly more formal or technical contexts, whereas 'parecido' (meaning 'looking like' or 'alike') is highly frequent in everyday conversation.