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How to Say "dream" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “dream” is “sueño” — use 'sueño' when you are talking about the images, thoughts, and emotions that occur in your mind during sleep..

English → Spanish

sueño

/SWEN-yo//ˈsweɲo/

nounA2general
Use 'sueño' when you are talking about the images, thoughts, and emotions that occur in your mind during sleep.
A character happily looking up at a bright, shimmering light that contains a miniature image of a desirable future goal.

Examples

Anoche tuve un sueño muy extraño sobre dragones.

Last night I had a very strange dream about dragons.

Mi sueño es ser un gran chef.

My dream is to be a great chef.

Fue un sueño hecho realidad.

It was a dream come true.

ideal

ee-deh-AHL/iˈðeal/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'ideal' to describe something that is perfect or highly desirable, often in a practical sense, like a 'dream job' or 'ideal location'.
A blue puzzle piece is perfectly clicked into its designated spot on a green surface, illustrating a perfect fit.

Examples

Esta casa tiene la ubicación ideal para mí.

This house has the ideal location for me.

Ella encontró el trabajo ideal después de graduarse.

She found the perfect job after graduating.

Para un picnic, un día soleado es ideal.

For a picnic, a sunny day is ideal.

Adjective Agreement (Easy)

Unlike many Spanish adjectives, 'ideal' always stays the same regardless of whether the noun is masculine or feminine (e.g., 'el coche ideal,' 'la casa ideal').

Gender Change

Mistake: “La situación ideala.”

Correction: La situación ideal. The ending of 'ideal' does not change to match feminine nouns.

soñado

soh-NAH-doh/soˈnaðo/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'soñado' to describe something that is the object of one's dreams or aspirations, implying a high level of wish fulfillment or perfection.
An idealized, small, cozy house with a chimney and bright windows, resting perfectly on a fluffy white cloud in a bright blue sky.

Examples

Ella consiguió el puesto soñado después de años de esfuerzo.

She got the dream job after years of effort.

Este coche deportivo es mi regalo soñado de cumpleaños.

This sports car is my ideal birthday present.

Adjective Agreement

Since 'soñado' is an adjective, you must change its ending to match the gender and number of the noun it describes: 'la vida soñada' (feminine singular) or 'los premios soñados' (masculine plural).

visión

nounB2general
Use 'visión' when referring to a grand plan, a forward-looking objective, or sometimes a supernatural or hallucinatory experience.

Examples

El fundador estableció una visión ambiciosa para la compañía.

The founder established an ambitious vision for the company.

Dream vs. Ideal vs. Soñado

Learners often confuse 'ideal' and 'soñado' when translating 'dream job'. 'Ideal' refers to a practically perfect option, while 'soñado' emphasizes the aspirational and longed-for nature of the job. 'Sueño' should only be used for dreams experienced during sleep.

Related Translations

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