Inklingo

How to Say "fiction" in Spanish

English → Spanish

ficción

nounA2general
Use 'ficción' when referring to creative works like books, movies, or stories that are not real, or the genre of such works.

Examples

Me gusta leer libros de ciencia ficción antes de dormir.

I like reading science fiction books before going to sleep.

narrativa

/nah-rah-TEE-bah//na.raˈti.βa/

nounB2literary, academic
Use 'narrativa' when discussing the literary genre itself, or an author's specific style of storytelling and how they construct their narratives.
A child sitting by a cozy fire listening intently to an elder holding an open book.

Examples

La narrativa de este autor es muy descriptiva.

This author's storytelling is very descriptive.

Estamos estudiando la narrativa española del siglo XX.

We are studying 20th-century Spanish fiction.

La estructura narrativa de la película es innovadora.

The movie's narrative structure is innovative.

Always Feminine

Even though it refers to a genre or style, 'narrativa' is always a feminine noun. You must use 'la' or 'una' with it.

Group vs. Individual

While 'un cuento' is one single story, 'la narrativa' usually refers to storytelling as a whole or a collection of works.

Narrativa vs. Historia

Mistake: “Me gusta la narrativa que me contaste.”

Correction: Me gusta la historia que me contaste. Use 'historia' for a specific plot or event, and 'narrativa' for the style of storytelling or the literary genre.

Choosing between 'ficción' and 'narrativa'

Learners often use 'ficción' when they mean 'narrativa', especially when talking about literary styles. Remember that 'ficción' refers to the content (made-up stories), while 'narrativa' refers more to the structure, style, or genre of storytelling.

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