How to Say “To Realize” in Spanish

If you’re learning Spanish, you’ve probably come across the verb “realizar” and thought it meant “to realize.” Makes sense, right? They look so similar! But be careful — this is one of the most common false friends in Spanish.

Let’s break it all down 👇

1️⃣ To Realize (as in to become aware of something) = Darse cuenta (de algo)

This is the most common way to say “to realize” in Spanish when you mean that you suddenly understand or notice something.

✅ Examples:

• I just realized that I forgot my keys.
  → Me acabo de dar cuenta de que olvidé mis llaves.
• Did you realize he was sick?
  → ¿Te diste cuenta de que estaba enfermo?
• She didn’t realize it was so late.
  → Ella no se dio cuenta de que era tan tarde.

📝 Grammar tip:
“Darse cuenta” is a reflexive verb, so the pronoun changes depending on the subject:

• Me doy cuenta – I realize
• Te das cuenta – You realize
• Se da cuenta – He/She/You (formal) realize(s)
• Nos damos cuenta – We realize
• Se dan cuenta – They/You all realize

2️⃣ To Realize (as in to achieve or fulfill something) = Lograr / Hacer realidad / Llevar a cabo

This second meaning of “to realize” in English is about making a dream or plan come true.

✅ Examples:

• He realized his dream of becoming a doctor.
  → Él logró su sueño de ser médico.
• They realized the project successfully.
  → Llevaron a cabo el proyecto con éxito.
• She realized her goal after years of hard work.
  → Ella hizo realidad su meta después de años de esfuerzo.

🔤 So What Does Realizar Mean in Spanish?

Great question! The verb realizar in Spanish does NOT mean “to realize” in the “I just noticed something” sense. Instead, realizar means to carry out, to accomplish, to execute, or to perform an action or task.

✅ Examples:

• El estudiante realizó un experimento.
  → The student carried out an experiment.
• La empresa realizó una encuesta.
  → The company conducted a survey.
• Realizamos el evento sin problemas.
  → We carried out the event without any issues.

So remember: “realizar” is NOT how you say “to realize” (as in notice or become aware).

🧠 Recap Chart:

Learning to spot false friends like this one will really improve your confidence and help you sound more natural in Spanish.