How to Say "fictional" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “fictional” is “ficticio” — use this word when referring to characters, events, or settings that are imaginary or created for a story, book, or movie.
ficticio
feek-TEE-syohfikˈtisjo
Examples
Sherlock Holmes es un personaje ficticio.
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character.
La historia ocurre en un mundo ficticio.
The story takes place in a fictional world.
Usó un nombre ficticio para entrar al club.
He used a fictitious name to enter the club.
Matching Endings
This word must change its ending to match the person or thing it describes. Use 'ficticio' for masculine items and 'ficticia' for feminine items. For plural, use 'ficticios' or 'ficticias'.
Word Order
In Spanish, you almost always place 'ficticio' after the noun you are describing, like 'un mundo ficticio' (a fictional world).
Confusing 'Ficticio' and 'Falso'
Mistake: “Using 'ficticio' for a broken promise or a lie.”
Correction: Use 'ficticio' for things created by imagination (books) or identity (fake names). Use 'falso' for things that are simply not true or deceptive.
imaginado
ee-mah-hee-NAH-dohima.xiˈna.ðo
Examples
El monstruo imaginado por el niño era verde y peludo.
The monster imagined by the boy was green and hairy.
Esa es solo una solución imaginada, no es práctica.
That is only an imagined solution; it's not practical.
Gender and Number Agreement
As an adjective, 'imaginado' must change its ending to match the noun it describes: 'imaginada' (f. singular), 'imaginados' (m. plural), 'imaginadas' (f. plural).
Forgetting the Agreement
Mistake: “La idea imaginado.”
Correction: La idea imaginada. (The ending must change from -o to -a to match 'idea'.)
fantástico
Examples
Estudiamos la literatura fantástica del siglo XIX.
We are studying 19th-century fantastic/fantasy literature.
Ficticio vs. Imaginado
Related Translations
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