Spanish Conversation · Level 168
15 words
Spanish word
irreal
Pronunciation
IPA/ireˈal/
Meaning
- adjectiveunreal
Example
La película tiene un final irreal.
The movie has an unreal ending.
More examples
La noticia creó una situación irreal en el pueblo.
The news created an unreal situation in the town.
Core concept
Fantastical, dreamlike image that gives the impression of unreality.
Common phrases
situación irreal
unreal situation
ambiente irreal
unreal atmosphere
Similar words
surreal: Bizarrely dreamlike, with an uncanny, distorted sense of reality.
fantástico: Improbably wondrous, suggesting marvels unlikely to occur in real life.
imaginario: Existing only in the imagination, not present in actual reality.
extraño: Unfamiliar and odd, producing a sense of strangeness or unease.
Definition in Spanish
Que no se ajusta a la realidad y produce la impresión de algo fantástico o propio de un sueño.
Word origin
Built from the negative prefix in- plus real (from Latin realis), following the Latin irrealis and coming into Spanish as irreal to denote something outside reality.
Usage tips
- Unlike colloquial English 'unreal' as praise, Spanish irreal normally signals a dreamlike or fantastical quality rather than casual admiration.