Two friendly, stylized figures standing facing each other, both extending a flower toward the other person, symbolizing a mutual exchange of goodwill.

mutuamente

moo-too-ah-MEHN-teh

adverbB1

mutually?when two parties share an action or feeling

Also:reciprocally?formal or technical usage,to each other?as a reinforcement of a shared action

📝 In Action

Ellos se respetan mutuamente a pesar de sus diferencias.

They mutually respect each other despite their differences.

Nuestras ideas son mutuamente beneficiosas para el proyecto.

Our ideas are mutually beneficial for the project.

Al final del debate, se felicitaron mutuamente por el esfuerzo.

At the end of the debate, they congratulated each other (mutually) for the effort.

Word Connections

Synonyms

recíprocamente (reciprocally)
viceversa (conversely)

Common Collocations

ayudarse mutuamente – to help each other mutually
beneficiarse mutuamente – to benefit mutually
depender mutuamente – to depend on each other

💡 Grammar Points

Always Unchanging

As an adverb, 'mutuamente' always stays the same regardless of who is performing the action or how many people are involved. It is an 'invariable' word.

Reinforcing 'Se'

When used with verbs that involve two or more people doing something to each other (like 'amar' or 'ayudar'), 'mutuamente' often follows the pronoun 'se' to emphasize that the action is definitely shared, not self-directed.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using it with Singular Verbs

Mistake: "La pareja se ama mutuamente."

Correction: La pareja se aman mutuamente. (The verb must be plural since the action involves both people.)

Confusing Adverb and Adjective

Mistake: "Tienen un mutuo acuerdo."

Correction: Tienen un acuerdo mutuo. (Use the adjective 'mutuo/a' to describe a noun like 'acuerdo,' not the adverb 'mutuamente.')

⭐ Usage Tips

When to Use It

Use 'mutuamente' when you need to be very clear that an action is shared and reciprocal. If the context is already obvious (like 'se besaron' - they kissed each other), you can usually leave it out.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: mutuamente

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'mutuamente' to express a shared action?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

mutuo(mutual) - adjective

mutua(mutual society/association) - noun

mutualidad(mutuality) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'mutuamente' necessary when I use the reciprocal pronoun 'se'?

Not always. 'Se' already implies a reciprocal action (like 'Se abrazaron' - They hugged each other). However, using 'mutuamente' adds strong emphasis and clarity, especially in formal writing or when you want to ensure the listener knows the action is definitely shared, not reflexive (not doing it to themselves).