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serio

/seh-ryoh/

serious

A portrait of a mature man wearing formal attire, sitting upright with his hands clasped. He has a perfectly straight mouth and a neutral, unsmiling expression, conveying a serious mood.

The word *serio* describes a person who is serious, often showing a straight, unsmiling face or a solemn mood.

serio(Adjective)

mA2
serious?describing a person's personality or mood; not joking or smiling
Also:solemn?for a very grave or formal mood,earnest?sincere and intense in conviction

📝 In Action

Mi profesor de historia es muy serio, casi nunca se ríe.

A2

My history teacher is very serious, he almost never laughs.

Ponte serio, estamos hablando de algo importante.

B1

Get serious, we're talking about something important.

Aunque parece serio, en realidad es muy amable.

B1

Although he seems serious, he's actually very kind.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • grave (grave, solemn)
  • formal (formal)

Antonyms

  • alegre (cheerful)
  • bromista (joker, playful)
  • divertido (fun, amusing)

Common Collocations

  • cara seria – serious face
  • ponerse serio – to get serious
  • tomar algo en serio – to take something seriously

Idioms & Expressions

  • ¿En serio? – Used to express disbelief or to ask if someone is being truthful.

💡 Grammar Points

Matches the Person or Thing It Describes

Like most describing words in Spanish, 'serio' changes to match the gender and number of what it's describing: 'el hombre serio' (the serious man), 'la mujer seria' (the serious woman), 'los niños serios' (the serious children), 'las niñas serias' (the serious girls).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'Ser' vs. 'Estar'

Mistake: "Confusing 'ser serio' and 'estar serio'."

Correction: Use 'ser serio' to describe someone's personality (it's who they are). Use 'estar serio' to describe someone's current mood (it's how they are right now). 'Él es serio' (He is a serious person). 'Él está serio' (He is being serious at this moment).

⭐ Usage Tips

Asking 'For Real?'

The phrase '¿En serio?' is incredibly common in conversation. Use it just like you would use 'Seriously?', 'Really?', or 'For real?' in English to show surprise or ask for confirmation.

A tiny, fragile green plant struggling to grow out of heavily cracked, dry, reddish earth, illustrating the severity of a problem like drought.

When describing a situation, *serio* means serious, significant, or severe, such as a serious problem or injury.

serio(Adjective)

mB1
serious?important, significant, not trivial
Also:severe?for illnesses or problems,major?for a setback or issue,reliable?for a person or company you can trust

📝 In Action

La falta de agua es un problema serio en esta región.

B1

The lack of water is a serious problem in this region.

Cometió un error serio en el informe.

B1

He made a serious mistake in the report.

Necesitamos encontrar una empresa seria para este trabajo.

B2

We need to find a reliable company for this job.

Tiene una herida seria, pero se recuperará.

B2

He has a serious injury, but he will recover.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • importante (important)
  • grave (grave, severe)
  • fiable (reliable)

Antonyms

  • trivial (trivial)
  • insignificante (insignificant)
  • leve (mild, slight)

Common Collocations

  • un problema serio – a serious problem
  • un asunto serio – a serious matter
  • una enfermedad seria – a serious illness
  • una empresa seria – a reliable/serious company

⭐ Usage Tips

More Than Just 'Serious'

When describing a company or a professional person, 'serio' or 'seria' often means 'reliable,' 'reputable,' or 'trustworthy.' It implies they do things properly and can be counted on.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: serio

Question 1 of 1

You see your friend looking worried and not laughing at your jokes. How would you ask, 'Why are you so serious (right now)?'

📚 More Resources

Word Family

seriedad(seriousness) - noun
seriamente(seriously) - adverb

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'serio' and 'grave'?

'Serio' is the general word for 'serious.' 'Grave' is a bit stronger and is often used for very important or severe situations, like a 'problema grave' (a grave problem) or an 'enfermedad grave' (a severe illness). Think of 'grave' as 'serious' with an extra dose of worry.

Can I say 'seriosamente' for 'seriously'?

While 'seriamente' is the correct adverb for 'seriously' (e.g., 'Lo digo seriamente' - 'I'm saying it seriously'), the phrase 'en serio' is much more common in everyday conversation. To say 'Take this seriously,' you'd say 'Toma esto en serio.'