Learn Hardcore Spanish (Spain): Mi apodo en la escuela es divertido, pero prefiero mi nombre real. - My nickname at school is fun, but I prefer my real name.

fun / entertaining:
- La película es muy divertida. = The film is really fun / entertaining.
amusing / funny:
- Tu amigo es muy divertido. = Your friend is really funny / amusing.

If you want to say someone or something makes you laugh, you can also use gracioso or que hace gracia:

Mi apodo es gracioso. = My nickname is funny (makes people laugh).

In everyday speech the line between fun and funny with divertido is a bit blurry; context decides.

Why is it es divertido and not está divertido?

With ser (es) vs estar (está):

ser divertido = to be fun / entertaining by nature, as a general quality
- Mi apodo es divertido. → My nickname is (generally) fun.
estar divertido is much less common and sounds odd with apodo.
More natural uses of estar divertido:
- Estoy divertido con esta serie. (Even this sounds more Latin American / unusual; in Spain you’d more likely say me lo estoy pasando bien.)

For a nickname, we’re talking about a permanent characteristic, so es divertido with ser is correct.

Can I move en la escuela? For example, can I say En la escuela, mi apodo es divertido?

Yes, you can move en la escuela without changing the basic meaning. All of these are grammatically correct:

Mi apodo en la escuela es divertido… (most neutral)
En la escuela, mi apodo es divertido… (slight emphasis on at school)
Mi apodo es divertido en la escuela… (sounds like it’s fun at school, but in other contexts maybe not – slightly odd with apodo)

The most natural and typical version, especially in writing, is the original:

Mi apodo en la escuela es divertido…

Why is it en la escuela and not en el colegio or en el instituto in Spain?

All three exist in Spain, but they’re used somewhat differently:

la escuela
- Generic word: school as an institution or concept.
- Also used for primary school, but in everyday conversation many people prefer colegio.
el colegio
- Very common for primary/elementary school and often also for private schools (even if they go up to secondary).
- En el colegio = at school (primary/compulsory education).
el instituto
- Used for secondary school (roughly ages 12–18, ESO and Bachillerato).
- En el instituto = at secondary school / high school.

Your sentence is grammatically fine with:

Mi apodo en la escuela…
Mi apodo en el colegio…
Mi apodo en el instituto…

Which one you choose depends on the specific type/level of school you have in mind and regional habits.

Why is it pero prefiero and not sino prefiero?

Pero and sino both often translate as but, but they’re used differently.

Use pero for a simple contrast, without correcting a negation:

Es divertido, pero prefiero mi nombre real.
= It’s fun, but I prefer my real name.

Use sino when the first part is negative and you’re correcting it:

No prefiero mi apodo, sino mi nombre real.
= I don’t prefer my nickname, but rather my real name.

In your sentence:

There is no no before the first part.
We are not correcting a negative statement.

So the correct conjunction is pero, not sino.

Why is it prefiero mi nombre real and not me prefiero mi nombre real or prefiero a mi nombre real?

In Spanish, preferir works like this:

preferir + [noun]
- Prefiero café. = I prefer coffee.
- Prefiero mi nombre real. = I prefer my real name.

So:

It is not reflexive here → no me prefiero.
You don’t add a before a direct object in this structure.

Wrong:

✗ me prefiero mi nombre real
✗ prefiero a mi nombre real

Correct:

Prefiero mi nombre real.

Is mi nombre real the only way to say my real name? Could I say mi verdadero nombre?

Both are possible, but they have slightly different typical uses:

mi nombre real
- Very common for real given name vs. nickname / fake name / username.
- Neutral, everyday.
- Fits perfectly in your sentence.
mi verdadero nombre
- Literally my true/real name, but can sound a bit more dramatic or emphatic.
- Often used in contexts like:
  - revealing a secret identity
    - Este no es mi verdadero nombre.
  - stressing authenticity
    - Quiero que me llames por mi verdadero nombre.

In your school-nickname context, mi nombre real is the most natural and common. You could say mi nombre de verdad in very casual speech, but mi nombre real is clearer and more standard.

Could I just say prefiero mi nombre and omit real?

Yes, you can. Prefiero mi nombre is grammatically correct and would often be understood from context, especially if everyone already knows you’re talking about a nickname vs. your given name.

However, mi nombre real:

makes the contrast explicit (nickname vs. real name)
avoids any possible ambiguity (it can’t be misunderstood as I prefer the sound of my name or similar)

So both are fine, but mi nombre real is clearer on its own.

Could I say me gusta más mi nombre real instead of prefiero mi nombre real?

Yes, both are correct, but there’s a nuance:

Prefiero mi nombre real.
- Directly expresses preference.
- Slightly more straightforward and neutral.
Me gusta más mi nombre real.
- Literally: My real name pleases me more.
- Feels a bit more subjective, like: I like my real name more.

In everyday conversation, both would sound natural. Your original sentence with prefiero is perfectly standard and maybe a bit more concise.

Can I use sobrenombre instead of apodo?

You can, but there is a difference in use:

apodo
- Very common, everyday word for nickname in Spain.
- Typically what friends/classmates call you.
sobrenombre
- Exists, but sounds more formal or old-fashioned in many contexts.
- More common in written or literary language, or in historical/biographical contexts:
  - Felipe II, conocido por el sobrenombre de “el Prudente”.

For a modern, everyday school context in Spain, apodo is definitely the most natural choice:

Mi apodo en la escuela es divertido… is better than
Mi sobrenombre en la escuela es divertido…, which sounds a bit stiff.