verdad

/ber-DAHD/

A set of balanced scales, with a single white feather on one side and a heavy, dark rock on the other. The scale is tipped down on the feather's side, symbolizing that truth has more weight.

The word 'verdad' represents truth, which often carries more weight and importance than a lie.

verdad (Noun)

fA1

truth?The concept of what is real or factual

Also:fact?Something that is known to be true,reality?The state of things as they actually exist

📝 In Action

Dime la verdad.

Tell me the truth.

La verdad es que no quiero ir.

The truth is that I don't want to go.

Busco la verdad sobre lo que pasó.

I'm looking for the truth about what happened.

Related Words

Synonyms

realidad (reality)
certeza (certainty)

Antonyms

mentira (lie)
falsedad (falsehood)

Common Collocations

decir la verdad – to tell the truth
de verdad – really, truly
la hora de la verdad – the moment of truth

Idioms & Expressions

una verdad como un templo – an undeniable truth

💡 Grammar Points

It's Feminine!

'Verdad' is a feminine word, so you always use 'la' or 'una' with it, not 'el' or 'un'. For example, 'la verdad' (the truth).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'Verdad' vs. 'Verdadero'

Mistake: "La historia es verdad."

Correction: La historia es verdadera. Use 'verdad' (the noun) for 'the truth' and 'verdadero/a' (the adjective) to describe something as 'true'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Adding Emphasis with 'De Verdad'

You can add 'de verdad' after something to mean 'really' or 'truly'. For example, 'Estoy cansado de verdad' means 'I'm really tired'.

Two people talking, with a large, soft question mark floating between them, indicating one is asking for confirmation from the other.

At the end of a sentence, '¿verdad?' asks for agreement, like saying '...right?' in English.

verdad (Interjection / Tag Question)

right??Used at the end of a sentence to ask for confirmation

Also:isn't it??A general tag question,don't you??A general tag question,really??Expressing surprise or asking for confirmation

📝 In Action

Hace frío hoy, ¿verdad?

It's cold today, right?

Vives en Madrid, ¿verdad?

You live in Madrid, don't you?

—Gané la lotería. — ¿De verdad?

—I won the lottery. —Really?

Related Words

Synonyms

¿no? (no?)
¿cierto? (true?)

Common Collocations

¿A que sí, verdad? – See? I told you so, right?

💡 Grammar Points

The One-Size-Fits-All Question

To ask for agreement in Spanish, just add '¿verdad?' to the end of your sentence. It works for 'he', 'she', 'they', 'it'—everything!

❌ Common Pitfalls

Over-translating from English

Mistake: "Es bonito, ¿no es?"

Correction: Es bonito, ¿verdad? English has many different tags ('isn't it?', 'doesn't she?'), but Spanish often uses the simple and universal '¿verdad?'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Sound More Natural

Sprinkling '¿verdad?' into your conversations is a great way to sound more like a native speaker. It makes your speech more interactive and friendly.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: verdad

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'verdad' to ask for confirmation?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

verdadero(true, real) - adjective

verdaderamente(truly, really) - adverb

verificar(to verify) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between '¿verdad?' and '¿no?' at the end of a sentence?

They are very similar and often interchangeable! '¿Verdad?' is a bit more neutral, simply asking for confirmation. '¿No?' can sometimes imply that you strongly expect the other person to agree with you. But in most everyday situations, you can use either one.

How is 'de verdad' different from just 'verdad'?

'Verdad' by itself is a noun meaning 'the truth'. When you add 'de' to make 'de verdad', it acts like an adverb meaning 'really' or 'truly'. It adds emphasis. For example: 'Te amo' (I love you) vs. 'Te amo de verdad' (I really love you).