Inklingo

honesto

oh-NES-toh/oˈnesto/

honesto means honest in Spanish (referring to a person or action).

honest, sincere

Also: upright
A smiling child in a bright yellow shirt hands a simple brown wallet back to a woman wearing a blue dress, illustrating the concept of honesty.

📝 In Action

Mi hermano es muy honesto y nunca miente.

A1

My brother is very honest and never lies.

¿Puedes darme tu opinión honesta sobre este vestido?

A2

Can you give me your honest opinion on this dress?

Necesitamos un gobierno honesto que trabaje para el pueblo.

B1

We need an honest government that works for the people.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • ser honestoto be honest
  • un trabajo honestoan honest job/living

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "honesto" in Spanish:

honestsinceretruthfulupright

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: honesto

Question 1 of 1

How would you describe 'My sister is honest'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
honestidad(honesty)Noun
deshonesto(dishonest)Adjective
🎵 Rhymes
modestomolesto
📚 Etymology

Comes directly from the Latin word *honestus*, which meant 'honorable, respectable, and upright.' The meaning has remained very consistent over the centuries.

First recorded: 13th century (in Spanish)

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: onestoFrench: honnête

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'honesto' and 'honrado'?

'Honesto' generally focuses on truthfulness and sincerity (telling the truth). 'Honrado' is often slightly stronger and emphasizes integrity, honor, and a reputation for being respectable and not corrupt. In daily conversation, they are often interchangeable.

Why is the 'h' not pronounced in 'honesto'?

In Spanish, the letter 'h' is silent almost always. Although it is written, you should ignore it completely when speaking. Just start with the 'o' sound: /oˈnesto/.