Simular vs Similar Quiz: Test Yourself
Five quick questions on simular vs similar. Pick an answer to get instant feedback.
Flip Cards: Quick Review
Hover over a card, or tap it on mobile, to see the meaning.
Alike, but not identical.
“The two phones look very similar.”
Not a standard English word. A Spanish verb meaning to simulate.
In English, write similar or simulate.
To imitate conditions, behavior or a situation.
“The software simulates a flight.”
Identical; not just alike.
“We have the same phone.”
Writers often stop to ask simular vs similar because the two look almost identical and “simular” feels natural when you are typing quickly. Only one of them is a standard English word, though, and the other has a legitimate life in Spanish and Portuguese. This guide explains the difference between simular and similar, shows how to use “similar” correctly, and gives you quick tricks to get the spelling right every time.
| Term | Meaning / Status | Part of speech / Category | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| similar | Alike, but not identical | Adjective | The two houses are similar in size. |
| similarly | In a like way | Adverb | She dressed similarly to her sister. |
| simulate | To imitate conditions, behavior or a situation | Verb | The software simulates a flight. |
| simular (English) | Not a standard English word; usually a typo | Spelling error | Write similar or simulate instead. |
| simular (Spanish) | To simulate or pretend | Spanish verb | Vamos a simular el examen. (We are going to simulate the exam.) |
What does “similar” mean?
Similar means alike in many ways, but not exactly the same. It is an adjective, and it is most often followed by “to.”
- The two houses are similar in size.
- Her handwriting is similar to her mother’s.
- We have similar tastes in music.
Related forms include similarly (adverb), similarity (noun) and similarities (plural).
Is “simular” a real English word?
Not in modern standard English. If you see “simular” in an English sentence, it is almost always a typo for “similar,” or sometimes a slip for “simulate.” Spellcheck will usually flag it.
The confusion has a clear source. In Spanish and Portuguese, “simular” is a normal verb, so writers who know those languages may type it by habit. This overlap is the reason so many people search for the difference between simular and similar.
What does “simular” mean in Spanish?
In Spanish and Portuguese, simular is a verb meaning “to simulate,” “to feign” or “to pretend.” It does not mean “alike,” which is the sense of the English word “similar.”
- Vamos a simular el examen. (We are going to simulate the exam.)
- Él intentó simular sorpresa. (He tried to feign surprise.)
Spanish also has its own word “similar,” which, like the English one, is an adjective meaning alike. So in Spanish, “simular” is the verb and “similar” is the adjective.
Is it “similar to,” “similar with” or “similar than”?
The standard pattern in English is “similar to.” Writers sometimes use “similar with” or “similar than,” but those combinations are not standard.
- This recipe is similar to the one my grandmother made.
- Their results were similar to ours.
If you want to compare things that are alike, “similar to” is the safe choice. You can also say “similar in” to say how they are alike, as in “similar in size.”
What is the difference between similar and the same?
Similar means alike but not identical, while the same means identical. Two phones that look nearly alike but have small differences are similar. Two copies of the exact same phone are the same.
That small gap matters in writing. “We have similar jobs” means the jobs are alike, and “We have the same job” means the job is identical.
Simular vs similar: which spelling should you use?
In English, always use similar for “alike.” Use simulate if you mean “to imitate.” Use simular only when you are writing in Spanish or Portuguese, where it is the verb for “to simulate.”
Compare these pairs:
- The two cars are similar in price. (English: alike.)
- The program can simulate a storm. (English: imitate.)
- Voy a simular una emergencia para el ejercicio. (Spanish: I am going to simulate an emergency for the exercise.)
Common mistakes with similar
- ✗ The two phones look very simular.
✓ The two phones look very similar. - ✗ Her handwriting is similiar to her mother’s.
✓ Her handwriting is similar to her mother’s. - ✗ This recipe is similar than the old one.
✓ This recipe is similar to the old one. - ✗ The software can simular a real flight.
✓ The software can simulate a real flight. - ✗ We have the similar phone, so they are identical.
✓ We have the same phone, so they are identical.
How can you remember which one to use?
Think about the meaning first. Here are three memory tricks:
- The “alike” swap: If you can replace the word with “alike,” write similar.
- The “imitate” swap: If you mean “imitate,” write simulate in English.
- The two-i trick: Similar has two i’s, one after the s and one after the m, like two matching twins standing side by side.
FAQ: Simular vs Similar
Is it ‘simular’ or ‘similar’?
In English, it is ‘similar’. ‘Simular’ is not a standard English word and is usually a typo.
Is ‘simular’ a word?
Not in modern standard English. In Spanish and Portuguese, however, ‘simular’ is a real verb meaning to simulate or pretend.
What does ‘simular’ mean in Spanish?
It means to simulate, feign or pretend. For example, ‘vamos a simular el examen’ means ‘we are going to simulate the exam’.
Is it ‘similar to’ or ‘similar with’?
The standard pattern is ‘similar to’. Phrases like ‘similar with’ or ‘similar than’ are not standard.
What is the difference between similar and the same?
Similar means alike but not identical. The same means identical.
Conclusion
When you’re stuck on simular vs similar, remember that “similar” is the English word for alike, and “simular” belongs to Spanish and Portuguese. Use the “alike” swap test, and use “simulate” when you mean to imitate. Share this with someone who mixes these up!