The word "literal" is an adjective in Spanish.
The phonetic transcription using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is /li.te.ˈɾal/.
In the Spanish language, "literal" conveys the idea of something being exact, precise, or taken word-for-word without interpretation or embellishment. It can refer to texts or phrases that are interpreted without any metaphorical or figurative deviation.
The frequency of use is relatively high, particularly in both oral and written contexts, mainly in legal, literary, and academic discussions. It is often employed to clarify the exactness of language or to respond to statements metaphorically interpreted.
El artículo fue citado de manera literal en el informe.
The article was quoted literally in the report.
Si seguimos la traducción literal, perderemos el sentido original.
If we follow the literal translation, we will lose the original meaning.
Su comentario fue tomado de forma literal, causando confusión.
His comment was taken literally, causing confusion.
Although "literal" is not commonly found in many idiomatic expressions, it can pair with several phrases to emphasize the exactness of an interpretation.
No hay que tomarse las cosas tan literales.
You shouldn't take things so literally.
A veces hay que leer entre líneas y no ser tan literal.
Sometimes you need to read between the lines and not be so literal.
Su explicación fue tan literal que no había espacio para la interpretación.
His explanation was so literal that there was no room for interpretation.
El crítico siempre busca un significado más allá de lo literal.
The critic always seeks a meaning beyond the literal.
En la poesía, no es bueno ser demasiado literal.
In poetry, it is not good to be too literal.
The word "literal" originates from the Latin "literalem," which translates to "pertaining to letters." This underscores its association with the exact letters and words, as opposed to metaphorical meanings.