formal
“formal” means “formal” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
formal, official
Also: proper, elegant
📝 In Action
Para la boda, es obligatorio llevar ropa formal.
A2For the wedding, it is mandatory to wear formal clothes.
Necesitas enviar una solicitud formal al departamento.
B1You need to send an official application to the department.
La reunión fue muy formal, todos se trataron de usted.
B2The meeting was very formal; everyone addressed each other using 'usted' (the polite form).
serious, dependable
Also: reliable
📝 In Action
Mi jefe es una persona muy formal, siempre cumple su palabra.
B1My boss is a very dependable person; he always keeps his word.
Necesitamos un socio comercial que sea formal y comprometido.
B2We need a business partner who is serious and committed.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: formal
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'formal' to describe a person's character, meaning they are dependable?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word 'formalis,' meaning 'relating to form or shape.' This origin explains why the word relates to following rules, structure, and proper procedure.
First recorded: 15th century (in its modern Spanish form)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'formal' only used for clothing?
No! While it often describes clothing or events (like a formal dinner), it is also used for language (formal vs. informal Spanish), documents (official letters), and character (meaning dependable or serious).
¿Cómo se dice 'formally'?
The adverb form is 'formalmente.' For example: 'Lo invité formalmente' (I formally invited him).