reëel

Reëel is a Dutch adjective meaning real, actual, or genuine. It is used to describe things that exist in fact or correspond to reality, as opposed to hypothetical or imaginary notions. In everyday language it can substitute for synonyms such as werkelijk or feitelijk, depending on context.

In Dutch orthography the word is spelled with a diaeresis over the second e (reëel) to indicate a hiatus between syllables, clarifying pronunciation and distinguishing it from other forms with a longer vowel. The term derives from the French réel, itself from Latin realis, and has been used in Dutch since the early modern period to convey the sense of actuality.

In mathematics and related disciplines the adjective appears in compounds such as reële getallen, which denotes real numbers. The real numbers are the complete, ordered field that includes all rational and irrational numbers and can be represented along the real number line. In these contexts the word retains its basic sense of authenticity or factual status, contrasting with abstract or nonreal frameworks like imaginary or complex numbers.

Outside of technical usage, reëel commonly appears in discussions of reality, perception, and practicality, where it highlights what is empirically verifiable rather than hypothetical. The term is part of standard Dutch vocabulary and is typically encountered in academic, scientific, and descriptive prose. See also real number, realism, and reality for related concepts.