How to Say "exactly" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “exactly” is “exactamente” — use 'exactamente' when you need to be precise about numbers, times, measurements, or descriptions, similar to 'precisely' or 'exactly'.
exactamente
ek-sak-ta-MEN-teheɡˈsak.taˈmen.te
Examples
El precio es cincuenta euros exactamente.
The price is fifty euros exactly.
El tren llega a las seis exactamente.
The train arrives at exactly six o'clock.
Necesito exactamente cien gramos de queso.
I need exactly one hundred grams of cheese.
Esto es exactamente lo que buscaba.
This is exactly what I was looking for.
Making Adverbs with '-mente'
Many Spanish adverbs are made by adding '-mente' to the end of another word. The trick is to find the feminine form of the adjective first. For 'exacto', the feminine form is 'exacta', so you get 'exacta-mente'.
Using 'Exacto' instead of 'Exactamente'
Mistake: “El tren llega exacto a las seis.”
Correction: El tren llega exactamente a las seis. To describe *how* an action happens (arrives exactly), you need the adverb 'exactamente'. 'Exacto' is used to describe a person or thing (un resultado exacto - an exact result).
justo
HOOS-tohˈxusto
Examples
Llegué justo a tiempo para la cena.
I arrived just in time for dinner.
Llegué justo cuando empezaba la película.
I arrived just as the movie was starting.
Eso es justo lo que necesitaba.
That's exactly what I needed.
La farmacia está justo en la esquina.
The pharmacy is right on the corner.
The Form That Never Changes
When 'justo' works as an adverb (telling you how, when, or where something happens), it never changes its ending. It's always 'justo', no matter what you're talking about.
mismo
mees-mohˈmizmo
Examples
El paquete está aquí mismo.
The package is right here.
Necesito el informe ahora mismo.
I need the report right now.
Dejé las llaves aquí mismo, sobre la mesa.
I left the keys right here, on the table.
Mañana mismo te llamo sin falta.
First thing tomorrow I'll call you without fail.
The Unchanging 'Mismo'
When used like this to emphasize a time or place (e.g., 'ahora', 'aquí'), 'mismo' is an adverb and it never changes. It's always 'mismo', never 'misma' or 'mismos'.
Trying to Change It
Mistake: “Vuelvo ahora misma.”
Correction: Vuelvo ahora mismo. (When it means 'right now', it doesn't change for gender.)
efectivamente
eh-fek-tee-bah-MEN-tehefektibaˈmente
Examples
—¿Te gustó la película? —Efectivamente, fue fantástica.
—Did you like the movie? —Indeed, it was fantastic.
—¿Había mucha gente en la fiesta? —Efectivamente, estaba lleno.
—Were there many people at the party? —Indeed, it was packed.
Efectivamente, el tren llegó con retraso.
Exactly as expected, the train arrived late.
The 'Confirmation' Word
Use this word when you want to say 'yes' but want to sound a bit more certain or formal than just saying 'sí'.
The 'Effectively' Trap
Mistake: “Using 'efectivamente' to mean 'doing something in an efficient way'.”
Correction: Use 'eficientemente' for 'efficiently'. 'Efectivamente' is almost always about confirming the truth of something.
precisamente
preh-see-sah-MEN-taypɾeθiˈsamente
Examples
¿Vives aquí? —Sí, precisamente aquí.
Do you live here? —Yes, precisely here.
¿Es aquí donde vives? — Sí, precisamente aquí.
Is this where you live? — Yes, precisely here.
Llegó precisamente cuando todos se iban.
He arrived just when everyone was leaving.
Eso es precisamente lo que habíamos acordado.
That is exactly what we had agreed upon.
Adverb Placement
'Precisamente' is flexible. It can go before the verb, after the verb, or at the start of a sentence to emphasize the whole idea.
justamente
jus-ta-MEN-texus.taˈmen.te
Examples
Llegó justamente cuando sonó el despertador.
He arrived exactly when the alarm clock rang.
Llegué justamente a tiempo para ver el inicio de la película.
I arrived exactly on time to see the start of the movie.
Esa es justamente la razón por la que te llamé.
That is precisely the reason why I called you.
¿Dónde está la farmacia? Está justamente aquí, a la vuelta de la esquina.
Where is the pharmacy? It's right here, just around the corner.
Adverb Formation
Most Spanish adverbs ending in -mente are formed by adding the suffix to the feminine singular form of the adjective (justo -> justa -> justamente).
Confusing 'Just' and 'Justamente'
Mistake: “Using 'justo' instead of 'justamente' to mean 'exactly' when describing a verb's action.”
Correction: Use 'justamente' when modifying a verb (e.g., 'justamente llegué'). 'Justo' is usually an adjective or a very informal adverb for proximity.
literalmente
lee-teh-rahl-MEHN-tehliteɾalˈmente
Examples
Debes seguir las instrucciones literalmente.
You must follow the instructions literally.
El documento debe ser traducido literalmente para que sea legal.
The document must be translated literally for it to be legal.
Siga las instrucciones literalmente y no habrá errores.
Follow the instructions exactly, and there won't be errors.
Adverb Formation
Most Spanish adverbs that describe 'how' something is done are formed by adding the ending '-mente' to the feminine form of an adjective (in this case, 'literal' + '-mente').
Choosing Between 'Exactamente', 'Justo', and 'Precisamente'
Related Translations
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