How to Say "literal" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “literal” is “estricto” — A2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Mi padre es muy estricto con la hora de volver a casa.
My father is very strict about the time I have to come home.
Para perder peso, ella sigue una dieta muy estricta.
To lose weight, she follows a very strict diet.
En sentido estricto, esa no es la respuesta correcta.
In a literal sense, that is not the correct answer.
Changing for Gender
This word needs to match the thing it describes. Use 'estricto' for masculine words like 'padre' and 'estricta' for feminine words like 'regla'.
Where to put it
Usually, you place 'estricto' right after the noun you are describing, such as 'un profesor estricto' (a strict teacher).
Strict vs. Tight
Mistake: “Llevo unos pantalones muy estrictos.”
Correction: Llevo unos pantalones muy apretados. Use 'estricto' for behavior or rules; use 'apretado' for clothes that are too small.
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