Inklingo

How to Say "for good" in Spanish

English → Spanish

permanentemente

per-mah-nen-te-MEN-tepeɾmanenteˈmente

adverbB1informal
Use 'permanentemente' when you want to informally state that something is not going to change back or be undone, often implying a finality in a less official context.
An ancient stone statue of a lion sitting in a peaceful garden, showing no signs of wear.

Examples

El restaurante cerró permanentemente el mes pasado.

The restaurant closed permanently last month.

La tienda ha cerrado permanentemente.

The store has closed permanently.

Ahora vivo permanentemente en España.

I live permanently in Spain now.

El archivo se borrará permanentemente de la computadora.

The file will be permanently deleted from the computer.

The '-mente' ending

This ending is the Spanish version of the English '-ly'. You can turn many adjectives into adverbs by adding it to the end of the feminine form of the adjective.

Word Order

In Spanish, these descriptive words usually come right after the action word (verb) they are describing, unlike in English where they often come before.

Don't add an accent

Mistake: “permanenteménte”

Correction: permanentemente. Even though it's a long word, it doesn't have a written accent mark because the base word 'permanente' doesn't have one.

definitivamente

deh-fee-nee-tih-vah-men-taydefinitiˈvamente

adverbB1
Choose 'definitivamente' when emphasizing the certainty or finality of a decision or statement, often used to express strong conviction about a situation.
A large, bright green checkmark (tick) rests securely and squarely on a simple, gray stone pedestal, symbolizing absolute certainty and affirmation.

Examples

Creo que esta vez me mudé definitivamente.

I think this time I moved for good.

Definitivamente es la mejor película del año.

It is definitely the best movie of the year.

¿Vienes con nosotros? — Sí, definitivamente.

Are you coming with us? — Yes, definitely/absolutely.

Ella decidió definitivamente no volver a fumar.

She decided conclusively (or 'for good') not to smoke again.

The '-mente' Adverb Pattern

Adverbs like 'definitivamente' are formed by taking the feminine form of an adjective ('definitiva') and adding the ending '-mente'. This works just like adding '-ly' to an adjective in English (definitive -> definitively).

Placement for Emphasis

Mistake: “Sometimes learners put 'definitivamente' inside the verb phrase, like 'Yo he definitivamente comido' (Incorrect word order).”

Correction: In Spanish, adverbs usually go before the verb, after the verb, or at the start of the sentence for emphasis: 'Yo definitivamente he comido' or 'Definitivamente he comido.' (Correct usage).

Choosing Between 'Permanentemente' and 'Definitivamente'

Learners often confuse these two because both imply permanence. Remember that 'permanentemente' is more about an action or state being irreversible, like a closure, while 'definitivamente' emphasizes the certainty of a decision or outcome.

Related Translations

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