seriamente
/se-ri-a-MEN-te/
seriously
When someone acts seriamente, they are focused and not joking.
📝 In Action
Ella me miró seriamente y me preguntó si estaba bien.
A2She looked at me seriously and asked me if I was okay.
Tienes que tomarte el trabajo seriamente si quieres un ascenso.
B1You have to take the job seriously if you want a raise.
Hablamos seriamente sobre el futuro de la empresa.
A2We spoke seriously about the future of the company.
💡 Grammar Points
Adverbs ending in -mente
Most Spanish adverbs that describe how something is done are formed by adding '-mente' (like English '-ly') to the feminine form of an adjective (e.g., 'seria' + 'mente' = 'seriamente').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Adjective instead of the Adverb
Mistake: "Hablamos serio."
Correction: Hablamos seriamente. (You need the '-mente' ending to describe the verb 'hablar'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Placement
Like in English, 'seriamente' usually goes right after the verb it modifies or before the phrase it modifies.
Seriamente can also mean severely, describing intensity, like serious damage or injury.
seriamente(adverb)
severely
?describing harm or intensity
badly
?in a bad way; greatly
,intensely
?with great force or degree
📝 In Action
El accidente lo dejó seriamente herido.
B1The accident left him severely injured.
La economía está seriamente afectada por la crisis.
B2The economy is badly (or severely) affected by the crisis.
Su propuesta seriamente compromete nuestros recursos.
C1His proposal seriously compromises our resources.
💡 Grammar Points
Intensity Adverb
In this context, 'seriamente' acts like an intensifier, similar to 'very' or 'greatly,' but usually reserved for negative or weighty situations (e.g., injuries, financial problems, concerns).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Overuse in positive contexts
Mistake: "Estoy seriamente feliz."
Correction: Estoy muy feliz. ('Seriamente' sounds awkward or dramatic when paired with positive feelings; use 'muy' or 'muchísimo' instead.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on Weighty Issues
Reserve this meaning of 'seriamente' for things that have significant negative consequences or require deep concern (e.g., 'seriamente enfermo,' 'seriamente endeudado').
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: seriamente
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'seriamente' to mean 'severely' or 'intensely'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'seriamente' the same as 'gravemente'?
'Seriamente' and 'gravemente' (gravely/seriously) are often interchangeable when describing injuries or bad situations. However, 'seriamente' is much more common and flexible for describing *how* someone does something (like 'thinking seriously'), while 'gravemente' usually focuses only on the severity of a situation (like being 'gravely ill').
Can I use 'serio' instead of 'seriamente'?
No, you must use 'seriamente' (the adverb) when describing a verb (an action). 'Serio' is an adjective used only to describe a noun (a person or thing). For example: 'Él es serio' (He is serious) vs. 'Él trabaja seriamente' (He works seriously).