honestamente
“honestamente” means “honestly” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
honestly
Also: truthfully
📝 In Action
Ella siempre paga sus deudas honestamente.
A2She always pays her debts honestly.
El niño confesó honestamente que había roto el jarrón.
B1The boy honestly confessed that he had broken the vase.
Si trabajas honestamente, la gente te respetará.
B1If you work honestly, people will respect you.
frankly
Also: to be honest
📝 In Action
Honestamente, no entiendo por qué la gente está tan molesta.
B2Honestly, I don't understand why people are so upset.
Yo, honestamente, preferiría quedarme en casa hoy.
B2Frankly, I would prefer to stay home today.
El plan es bueno, pero honestamente, no tenemos el presupuesto.
C1The plan is good, but to be honest, we don't have the budget.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: honestamente
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'honestamente' to modify the entire idea being expressed (meaning 'frankly')?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin adjective *honestus* (meaning 'honorable' or 'respectable'), combined with the Spanish suffix *-mente*. This suffix comes from the Latin word *mens* ('mind' or 'manner'), so 'honestamente' literally means 'in an honest manner' or 'with an honest mind'.
First recorded: Medieval Spanish period, following the common pattern for forming adverbs from adjectives.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'honestamente' the same as 'sinceramente'?
They are very similar synonyms and often interchangeable, especially when used to introduce an opinion ('to be honest/sincere'). 'Honestamente' focuses more on truthfulness and fairness in actions, while 'sinceramente' emphasizes genuine feeling and lack of pretense.
Can I use 'ser honesto' instead of 'honestamente'?
Yes, you can use the phrase 'Para ser honesto/a' (To be honest) as a good conversational replacement for the single adverb 'Honestamente,' especially in informal speech.