ciertamente

/syair-tah-MEN-tay/

certainly

A cartoon figure standing firmly on a large, stable gray rock and pointing forward with a confident expression, illustrating certainty.

When you are absolutely sure of something, you can say ciertamente.

ciertamente(adverb)

certainly

Expressing absolute conviction

indeed

Confirming a previous statement

Also:

absolutely

Strong affirmation

📝 In Action

Ciertamente, este es el mejor café que he probado.

Certainly, this is the best coffee I have tried.

¿Crees que ganaremos? — Ciertamente.

Do you think we will win? — Certainly (Indeed).

Ella es ciertamente la persona más cualificada para el puesto.

She is certainly the most qualified person for the position.

Word Connections

Synonyms

claro (of course)
por supuesto (of course)
efectivamente (effectively, indeed)

Antonyms

dudosamente (doubtfully)

Common Collocations

ciertamente que sí – certainly yes, absolutely

💡 Grammar Points

Always the Same

As an adverb, 'ciertamente' always stays the same regardless of who is speaking or what they are talking about (it doesn't change gender or number).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Overusing 'Ciertamente'

Mistake: "Using 'ciertamente' in every simple affirmative response."

Correction: While correct, 'sí' or 'claro' are often more natural in casual conversation. Save 'ciertamente' for stronger emphasis.

⭐ Usage Tips

Placement

You can usually place 'ciertamente' at the beginning of the sentence or right after the verb, just like 'certainly' in English.

A small cartoon character shrugging slightly while holding a single, slightly wilted red flower, acknowledging a minor flaw or concession.

Ciertamente can be used like 'admittedly' to concede a point before introducing a contrasting idea.

ciertamente(adverb)

admittedly

Acknowledging a point before introducing a contrast

to be sure

Formal concession

📝 In Action

Ciertamente el trabajo es difícil, pero la recompensa vale la pena.

Admittedly, the job is difficult, but the reward is worth it.

Ella llegó tarde, ciertamente, sin embargo, trajo los documentos importantes.

She arrived late, to be sure; however, she brought the important documents.

Word Connections

Synonyms

indudablemente (undoubtedly)
a decir verdad (to tell the truth)

Common Collocations

ciertamente, pero... – admittedly, but...

💡 Grammar Points

The Concession Adverb

In this usage, 'ciertamente' acts as a concession, meaning you are granting that the first part of the sentence is true, usually setting up a 'but' or 'however' statement to follow.

⭐ Usage Tips

Look for the 'But'

If you see 'ciertamente' followed by 'pero' (but) or 'sin embargo' (however), it most likely means 'admittedly' or 'to be sure'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: ciertamente

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'ciertamente' in its 'admittedly' (concession) meaning?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

cierto(certain, true) - adjective

certeza(certainty) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'ciertamente' more formal than 'claro' or 'por supuesto'?

Yes. While all three mean 'certainly' or 'of course,' 'ciertamente' carries a slightly more formal or emphatic tone. You would use 'claro' or 'por supuesto' much more often in everyday, casual conversation.