Spanish word

imaginario

Pronunciation

IPA/imaxiˈnaɾjo/

Meaning

  • adjectiveimaginary

Example

Cuando era niño, inventé un amigo imaginario.

When I was a child, I invented an imaginary friend.

Illustration for imaginario (imaginary)

More examples

Mi sobrino juega en su mundo imaginario cada tarde.

My nephew plays in his imaginary world every afternoon.

Core concept

An invented person, place, or object that exists only in the imagination.

Common phrases

  • amigo imaginario

    imaginary friend

  • mundo imaginario

    imaginary world

Similar words

ficticio: Created for fiction or stories; a narrative invention not based on fact.
inventado: Deliberately created or fabricated by someone; intentionally made up and not real.
irreal: Not matching reality; giving a dreamlike or strangely unreal impression.

Definition in Spanish

Que existe solo en la imaginación y no corresponde a la realidad.

Word origin

Derived from Latin imago 'image' through imaginarius, with -ario turning the root into an adjective for things produced by the imagination.

Usage tips

  • Common collocations are amigo imaginario and mundo imaginario, so expect adjectival agreement (amigo imaginario, amigos imaginarios, amiga imaginaria).

Other meanings

  • fictionaladjective
  • fancifuladjective

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word