Spanish Phrase
Sé específico y realista.
Meaning
The phrase means ‘Be specific and realistic.’ It is a concise piece of advice, urging someone to focus on clear details while keeping expectations grounded in reality.
When to use
Use this sentence when you’re giving feedback on a plan, project, or personal goal. It works well in both professional settings (e.g., meetings, coaching) and informal conversations (e.g., friends discussing travel itineraries).
✦Grammar Breakdown
Séespecíficoyrealista.
Sé (imperative of ser)
‘Sé’ is the informal affirmative imperative of the verb ‘ser’, meaning ‘be’ when giving advice or instructions.
específico (adjective)
‘específico’ means ‘specific’; it agrees in gender and number with the implied noun (often ‘plan’ or ‘idea’).
y (conjunction)
‘y’ simply links two adjectives, equivalent to ‘and’ in English.
realista (adjective)
‘realista’ means ‘realistic’; like ‘específico’, it matches the gender/number of the implied noun.
🗨In Conversation
Quiero lanzar una app, pero no sé por dónde empezar.
I want to launch an app, but I don’t know where to start.
Mi consejo: sé específico y realista con tus objetivos de la primera fase.
My advice: be specific and realistic with your first‑phase goals.
✕Common Mistakes
Si específico y realista.
‘Si’ means ‘if’; the correct imperative is ‘Sé’ with an accent.
Sé especifico y realista.
Missing accent changes the meaning; ‘específico’ is the adjective, while ‘especifico’ is a verb form.
Sé específico y realisto.
The correct spelling is ‘realista’; ‘realisto’ is not a word in Spanish.
↔Alternatives
Sé concreto y realista.
Be concrete and realistic.
Sé claro y práctico.
Be clear and practical.
Define bien los detalles y mantén los pies en la tierra.
Define the details well and keep your feet on the ground.
Cultural Tip
In Spanish, the informal imperative ‘sé’ is very common in advice. Avoid the formal ‘sea’ unless you’re speaking to someone you need to show respect to (e.g., a senior manager). Also, remember to keep the accent on ‘sé’; without it, the word changes to the verb ‘se’ (reflexive pronoun).