German word

real

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁeˈaːl/

Meaning

  • adjectivereal

Example

Das ist das reale Leben.

This is real life.

Illustration for real (real)

More examples

Die reale Situation ist komplizierter als gedacht.

The real situation is more complicated than expected.

Core concept

A concrete situation or thing that exists in the world, not merely in thought, theory, or imagination.

Common phrases

  • reale Situation

    real situation

  • reale Möglichkeit

    real possibility

  • reale Erfahrung

    real experience

Similar words

echt: Authentic and truly made or produced, rather than fake or copied.
wirklich: Used to stress that something is truly the case, often with surprise.
tatsächlich: Verified as true by facts, investigation, or direct confirmation.

Definition in German

Nicht vorgestellt oder theoretisch, sondern tatsächlich vorhanden und so, wie es in der Wirklichkeit ist.

Word origin

German real is a learned borrowing ultimately from Latin realis, 'relating to a thing', based on res, 'thing'.

Usage tips

  • Real often sounds objective or formal, while wirklich and echt are more common for strong conversational emphasis.

Other meanings

  • actualadjective
  • trueadjective

Opposites

  • irrealunrealadjective
  • fiktivfictionaladjective

Related words

Word lists with this word