leal
adjectiveCEFR B2
What does “leal” mean in English?
loyal — giving or showing firm and constant support to a person or institution
loyal — giving or showing firm and constant support to a person or institution (empleado leal, amigo leal)
Example sentences
El asesor legal fue leal a su cliente durante todo el proceso judicial, incluso cuando la presión pública era enorme.
The legal adviser was loyal to his client throughout the judicial process, even when public pressure was enormous.
Una empresa leal a sus empleados en tiempos de crisis obtiene mayor compromiso y productividad a largo plazo.
A company that is loyal to its employees in times of crisis obtains greater commitment and productivity in the long run.
How to use it
Leal means 'loyal' — giving firm and constant support to a person, institution, or cause. Common collocations: empleado leal, seguidor leal, ser leal a, actitud leal. Ser: always ser — loyalty is a character trait. Antonym: desleal. Note: leal can modify both people and organisations. Key phrase: ser leal a sus principios.
Common mistake
Leal ≠ fiel: fiel focuses on accuracy and constancy (also used of copies/translations); leal focuses on allegiance and moral constancy to a person or cause. Though they overlap, leal is less used for translations and fiel is less used for institutional allegiance.