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generalmente

he-ne-ral-men-te

adverbA2

generally?in a general sense,usually?as a typical habit or frequency

Also:in general?when summarizing a trend,commonly?describing widespread occurrence

📝 In Action

Generalmente, el restaurante está lleno los sábados.

Generally, the restaurant is full on Saturdays.

¿Qué haces los fines de semana? Generalmente leo o salgo a caminar.

What do you do on weekends? I usually read or go for a walk.

Las tiendas pequeñas generalmente cierran a las ocho de la noche.

Small shops usually close at eight o'clock at night.

Generalmente, cuando viajas en avión, tienes que llegar con dos horas de antelación.

In general, when you travel by plane, you have to arrive two hours in advance.

Word Connections

Synonyms

normalmente (normally)
usualmente (usually)
por lo general (in general)

Antonyms

raramente (rarely)
nunca (never)

Common Collocations

Generalmente es así – It is generally like that
Generalmente se acepta que... – It is generally accepted that...

💡 Grammar Points

The '-mente' Rule

Most Spanish adverbs that end in '-mente' are the equivalent of English adverbs ending in '-ly'. They are formed by taking the feminine form of an adjective (like 'general' -> 'general') and adding '-mente'.

Invariable Word

Since 'generalmente' is an adverb, it always stays the same. You don't need to worry about changing the ending to match masculine, feminine, singular, or plural subjects.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Adverb and Adjective

Mistake: "La gente es general amable. (Incorrect mix of parts of speech)"

Correction: La gente es generalmente amable. (Use the adverb form to modify the adjective 'amable' or the entire sentence.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Flexible Placement

You can place 'generalmente' before the verb (Generalmente leo), after the verb (Leo generalmente), or at the beginning of the sentence (Generalmente, leo...). Starting the sentence often sounds more formal or emphasizes the point.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: generalmente

Question 1 of 2

Which Spanish word is NOT a synonym for 'generalmente'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

general(general) - adjective

la generalidad(the majority/generality) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'generalmente' exactly the same as 'por lo general'?

Yes, they are interchangeable in most situations. 'Generalmente' is a single word (an adverb), while 'por lo general' is a common phrase that functions the same way, meaning 'in general' or 'as a rule'.

Can I use 'generalmente' to describe something that happens every single time?

No. 'Generalmente' implies that something happens *most* of the time, but not always. If you mean 'always,' you should use 'siempre'.