Inklingo

How to Say "faithful" in Spanish

English → Spanish

fiel

/fyél//fjel/

AdjectiveB1General
Use 'fiel' when emphasizing loyalty and unwavering commitment to a person, cause, or belief, often highlighting a deep emotional bond or steadfastness.
A colorful storybook illustration showing a loyal brown dog sitting patiently beside its owner, illustrating faithfulness.

Examples

Mi perro es el animal más fiel que conozco.

My dog is the most faithful animal I know.

Hicieron una traducción fiel del documento original.

They made an accurate translation of the original document.

Ella fue una socia fiel de la empresa durante veinte años.

She was a loyal partner of the company for twenty years.

Gender Invariability

Unlike many Spanish adjectives, 'fiel' has the same form whether describing a masculine thing ('el amigo fiel') or a feminine thing ('la amiga fiel').

Plural Form

To make 'fiel' plural, simply add '-es': 'fieles'. This applies to both masculine and feminine nouns (e.g., 'amigos fieles', 'copias fieles').

Confusing Fiel and Leal

Mistake: “Using 'leal' when referring to accuracy (e.g., 'una copia leal').”

Correction: Use 'fiel' when talking about accuracy or truthfulness (e.g., 'una copia fiel'). 'Leal' is reserved almost exclusively for loyalty to a person or group.

leal

leh-AHL/leˈal/

AdjectiveB1General
Use 'leal' when focusing on consistent support and allegiance, especially in relationships, partnerships, or to an organization, implying reliability and trustworthiness.
A high quality storybook illustration showing a small child sitting on the ground gently petting a large, calm brown dog. The dog is looking up at the child with devotion, symbolizing loyalty.

Examples

Mi perro es muy leal y nunca se separa de mí.

My dog is very loyal and never leaves my side.

Necesitamos un equipo de trabajo leal para completar este proyecto difícil.

We need a loyal work team to complete this difficult project.

A pesar de las dificultades, siempre se mantuvo leal a sus principios.

Despite the difficulties, he always remained true to his principles.

Adjective Agreement (Gender)

Since 'leal' ends in a consonant ('l'), it uses the exact same form whether you are describing a masculine person/thing (un amigo leal) or a feminine person/thing (una amiga leal). It doesn't change from 'leal' to 'leala'.

Adjective Agreement (Number)

To make 'leal' plural (meaning more than one), you must add '-es': 'los amigos leales' (the loyal friends) and 'las amigas leales'.

Forgetting the Plural Ending

Mistake: “Mis padres son muy leal.”

Correction: Mis padres son muy leales. (Always remember to add '-es' when describing plural nouns, even if the singular form doesn't change for gender.)

Fiel vs. Leal: The Nuance

While 'fiel' and 'leal' both mean faithful or loyal, 'fiel' often carries a stronger sense of deep emotional commitment or adherence to a principle. 'Leal' typically emphasizes consistent support and allegiance, especially in social or professional contexts. Think of 'fiel' for devotion and 'leal' for steadfast support.

Related Translations

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