Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| realizar | /realiˈθaɾ/ /realiˈsaɾ/ |
Belize |
| apiolarse/percatarse/coscarse de | ||
| caer en la cuenta de | /kaeɾ en la kwenta de/ (from spelling rules) | |
| caer en cuenta de | /kaeɾ en kwenta de/ (from spelling rules) | |
| darse cuenta de | /daɾse kwenta de/ (from spelling rules) | |
| captar | /kabˈtaɾ/ | |
| caer el veinte de | /kaeɾ el beinte de/ (from spelling rules) |
Spanish distinguishes between the two. To express the mental act of becoming aware, you should use phrases like darse cuenta de, caer en la cuenta or percatarse de. If you want to express noticing or perceiving something, you can also use percibir or captar.
Which one should you use?
The phrase darse cuenta de is the standard way to say one has become aware of a fact. For a more informal, idiomatic tone, you can use caer en la cuenta or caer en cuenta de. If you have just finally understood something after a delay, the colloquial phrase caer el veinte de is used. In more formal contexts, percatarse de or tomar conciencia de are appropriate, with the latter conveying a stronger sense of awareness.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For standard, everyday situations, use darse cuenta de. If you are writing or speaking in a formal setting, percatarse de or tomar conciencia de are better choices. Conversely, caer en la cuenta and caer el veinte de are informal or colloquial expressions.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Belize, the form realizar is used. In Mexico, the colloquial expression caer el veinte de is common to describe finally understanding something.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the phrase darse cuenta de to mean 'to realize [something]', you must include the preposition de before the object or the clause.
How do you pronounce it?
/realiˈθaɾ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to use realizar when you mean 'to become aware of'. In standard Spanish, realizar actually means 'to carry out' or 'to perform' a task.
Did you know?
- The Mexican phrase caer el veinte literally means 'the twenty cents dropped'. It refers to the old public telephones in Mexico where you needed to insert 20 cents for the call to connect.
- The word realizar is formed by combining real with the suffix -izar, which comes from the Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω.
- While most Spanish speakers use darse cuenta de for mental awareness, the word realizar can be used to mean 'to realize' in parts of Belize. This is a notable regional exception to the standard usage.
Examples in context
- Sólo le llevó unos minutos darse cuenta de sus errores.It took him only a few minutes to realize his mistakes.This sentence shows how to use darse cuenta de to describe realizing mistakes.Tatoeba #1365940 by marcelostockle, translation #20863 by CK
- Nadie es capaz de realizar sus sueños sin persistencia.No one is able to realize their dreams without persistence.This sentence demonstrates the use of realizar meaning 'to carry out' or 'to perform' dreams.Tatoeba #2585447 by marcelostockle, translation #7822752 by eggershead
- No le tomó mucho a Tom darse cuenta de que no era bienvenido allí.It didn't take Tom long to realize he wasn't welcome there.This sentence provides an example of using darse cuenta de to describe realizing a situation.Tatoeba #1366041 by marcelostockle, translation #1096172 by CK
- Me di cuenta de que había olvidado el informe.I realized that I had forgotten the report.
- Tomo conciencia de la importancia de una alimentación saludable.I realize the importance of a healthy diet.
- Me di cuenta de que llegué tarde.I realized that I arrived late.
- Caí en la cuenta de que no había comprado pan.I realized that I hadn't bought bread.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are talking about a missing set of keys.
- JavierNo encuentro mis llaves por ninguna parte.I can't find my keys anywhere.
- SofíaAcabo de realizar que las dejaste en la cocina.I just realized that you left them in the kitchen.
- Javier¡Es cierto! Muchas gracias, Sofía.That's true! Thank you very much, Sofía.
- SofíaDe nada, Javier. Ten más cuidado.You're welcome, Javier. Be more careful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “realize” translations and entries realizar, captar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caer, cuenta, de, en, la, realizar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
