documental (spanish) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

• Adjective (in Spanish: "documental" as an adjective relates to documentation or documents)
• Noun (when referring specifically to a documentary, e.g., "un documental")

Phonetic Transcription

/ dokumenˈtal /

Translation Options into English

• Adjective: "documentary"
• Noun: "documentary film" or simply "documentary"

Meaning and Usage

The term "documental" refers to something that is based on or relates to documents or factual information. As an adjective, it is commonly used to describe films or programs that explore real-life events, often by presenting factual information and interviews in a visual format. As a noun, "documental" refers specifically to a documentary film.

The frequency of use is relatively high, particularly in contexts related to media, film studies, education, and journalism. It is commonly encountered in both spoken and written contexts, with a slight predominance in written form, especially in articles, reviews, and academic discussions.

Example Sentences

1. "Vi un documental sobre la vida de Frida Kahlo."
   "I watched a documentary about the life of Frida Kahlo."

2. "El documental presentado en el festival obtuvo varios premios."
   "The documentary presented at the festival won several awards."

3. "Los temas tratados en el documental son muy relevantes."
   "The topics covered in the documentary are very relevant."

Idiomatic Expressions

The term "documental" is not commonly part of idiomatic expressions, but it can be found in phrases or contexts where documenting and factual reporting are emphasized.

Example Sentences with Idiomatic Expressions

1. "El documental de la historia contemporánea está lleno de datos impactantes."
   "The documentary on contemporary history is full of shocking facts."

2. "Ver ese documental me abrió los ojos sobre la realidad del cambio climático."
   "Watching that documentary opened my eyes to the reality of climate change."

3. "Después de ver el documental, decidí involucrarme en el activismo."
   "After watching the documentary, I decided to get involved in activism."

4. "El documental nos muestra que la verdad siempre sale a la luz."
   "The documentary shows us that the truth always comes to light."

5. "Este año se lanzó un documental revelador sobre los derechos humanos."
   "This year, a revealing documentary about human rights was released."

6. "La serie documental nos lleva a explorar culturas antiguas."
   "The documentary series takes us to explore ancient cultures."

Etymology

The word "documental" comes from the Latin "documentalis," which is derived from "documentum," meaning "lesson, proof, or teaching." The term evolved to describe works that provide factual information, aiming to educate or inform the audience.

Synonyms and Antonyms

• Synonyms:
• "documentario" (often used interchangeably in some Spanish-speaking countries)

• "reportaje" (report), more general but related.

• Antonyms:

• "ficticio" (fictional), describing something that is not based on real events or facts.
• "imaginario" (imaginary), referring to ideas or stories that are created from imagination rather than factual evidence.