réaliser

realize

verb reh-ah-lee-ZEH Less Common

Also means

carry out

Usage Note

Réaliser is a faux ami for English speakers: it means both 'to realize/become aware' and 'to carry out/achieve' — réaliser un projet means 'to carry out a project', not just to 'realize' it mentally. The second sense is actually the older one. Réaliser un film means 'to direct a film', so a réalisateur is a film director.

Examples

"Je réalise maintenant mon erreur."

Natural Translation

I now realize my mistake.

Literal Translation

I realize now my mistake

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