Inklingo

How to Say "deeply" in Spanish

English → Spanish

profundamente

pro-foon-dah-MEN-teh/pɾofunðaˈmente/

adverbB1
Use 'profundamente' when describing emotional or mental states, or when an action is done with great intensity. It can also describe sleeping very soundly.
A person sitting quietly, holding their knees, surrounded by swirling, deep blue and purple colors that emanate from their head, symbolizing profound contemplation or intense emotion.

Examples

El discurso del orador nos conmovió profundamente.

The speaker's speech moved us deeply.

El director agradeció profundamente a su equipo por el esfuerzo.

The director deeply thanked his team for the effort.

Ella reflexionó profundamente sobre la decisión antes de responder.

She profoundly reflected on the decision before answering.

El libro explora temas que nos afectaron profundamente.

The book explores themes that affected us deeply.

The '-mente' Pattern

This word is an adverb, which means it describes how an action is done. Most Spanish adverbs are formed by adding the ending '-mente' (similar to the English '-ly') to the feminine version of the adjective (profunda + mente).

Overusing 'Muy'

Mistake: “Usar 'muy profundo' para describir un sentimiento.”

Correction: Use 'profundamente' instead. It sounds more natural and eloquent when describing how an action is performed, rather than just using 'very deep.'

hondo

/OHN-doh//ˈondo/

adverbB1
Use 'hondo' primarily to describe the action of breathing in a deep manner, often as part of a relaxation technique.
A person standing on a hill taking a very big breath of fresh air.

Examples

Respira hondo y relájate.

Breathe deeply and relax.

Sus palabras calaron hondo en el público.

His words left a deep impression on the audience.

Always 'Hondo' as an Action Word

When describing how you do an action (like breathing), the word always stays 'hondo'. You don't need to change it to match anything else.

huesos

/WÉH-sohs//ˈwesos/

nounB1informal
Use 'huesos' figuratively to express a feeling that penetrates to the very core of one's being, usually associated with extreme cold or a profound, often negative, sensation.
A small person sitting down and shivering violently, wrapped in a thin red blanket. The person's skin is tinged blue to show extreme cold, emphasizing feeling cold deeply.

Examples

El frío calaba hasta los huesos.

The cold penetrated to the bones.

Hace tanto frío que tengo la sensación de tener frío hasta los huesos.

It's so cold that I feel cold right down to the core (literally, 'down to the bones').

Esa mujer es ambiciosa hasta los huesos; no le importa nadie más.

That woman is ambitious to the core; she doesn't care about anyone else.

The Phrase 'Hasta los huesos'

This phrase is used to emphasize that a feeling (usually cold, but sometimes a quality like ambition or evil) affects you completely or reaches your deepest being.

Profundamente vs. Hondo

Learners often confuse 'profundamente' and 'hondo'. Remember that 'hondo' is almost exclusively used for breathing deeply, while 'profundamente' covers a much wider range of meanings, including emotional states and intense actions.

Related Translations

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