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How to Say "frankly" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “frankly” is “francamente” — use this word when you want to express your honest opinion directly, often to preface a potentially blunt statement..

English → Spanish

francamente

FRAHN-kah-MEHN-tay/fɾaŋkaˈmente/

adverbB1
Use this word when you want to express your honest opinion directly, often to preface a potentially blunt statement.
A figure gently holding a stylized mask away from their face, revealing a clear, open expression underneath, symbolizing honesty.

Examples

Francamente, creo que la película fue aburrida.

Frankly, I think the movie was boring.

Dime francamente lo que piensas de mi idea, no quiero mentiras.

Tell me honestly what you think of my idea; I don't want lies.

Para ser sincero, francamente no esperaba un resultado tan bueno.

To be sincere, honestly I didn't expect such a good result.

Adverbs Ending in -mente

Most Spanish adverbs that describe how something is done end in '-mente.' They are formed by taking the feminine form of an adjective (like 'franca') and adding '-mente.' They always stay the same, regardless of who is speaking or how many people are involved.

Placement is Flexible

Mistake: “Using 'francamente' only at the beginning of the sentence.”

Correction: While common at the start, you can place it after the verb for emphasis: 'Me lo dijo francamente.' (He told me it frankly.)

directamente

/dee-rek-tah-MEN-teh//di.ɾek.taˈmen.te/

adverbB1
Use this word when emphasizing a direct, straightforward manner of speaking or conveying information, similar to 'straight up' or 'bluntly'.
A girl with wide, honest eyes speaking clearly and directly to a boy who looks slightly surprised. They are sitting face-to-face on colorful stools.

Examples

Para serle honesto, te lo diré directamente: no me gusta la idea.

To be honest, I'll tell you directly: I don't like the idea.

Ella preguntó directamente si él iba a renunciar.

She asked explicitly if he was going to resign.

sinceramente

sin-seh-ra-MEN-tay/sinθeˈɾamente/

adverbB1
Use this word to convey genuine feelings or an unreserved opinion, highlighting the sincerity behind your words.
A young person standing with a gentle smile, placing one hand over their chest near the heart, symbolizing a sincere or heartfelt expression.

Examples

Sinceramente, creo que fue un error.

Honestly, I think it was a mistake.

Te agradezco sinceramente por venir a la fiesta.

I sincerely thank you for coming to the party.

Si me preguntas sinceramente, no me gusta su nueva canción.

If you ask me frankly, I don't like his new song.

Forming Adverbs

Spanish adverbs often end in '-mente.' You form them by taking the feminine form of an adjective (sincera) and adding '-mente.' This ending is like adding '-ly' in English.

Placement

Adverbs of manner usually go after the verb they describe (Te agradezco sinceramente) or at the beginning of the sentence if they modify the whole idea (Sinceramente, creo...).

Omitting the Accent

Mistake: “Writing 'sinceramente' without the accent mark on the first 'e'.”

Correction: The accent on the original adjective 'sincero' or 'sincera' is lost when '-mente' is added, but the stress pattern remains the same: sin-ce-RA-men-te. However, the Real Academia Española dictates that *sinceramente* does not carry a written accent.

honestamente

/oh-nes-tah-MEN-tay//o.nes.taˈmen.te/

adverbB2
Use this word as a sentence modifier to emphasize that you are being truthful or are stating something with integrity, similar to 'truthfully'.
A character speaks directly and openly to a listener, using hand gestures that emphasize straightforward communication, representing 'frankly'.

Examples

Honestamente, no entiendo por qué la gente está tan molesta.

Honestly, I don't understand why people are so upset.

Yo, honestamente, preferiría quedarme en casa hoy.

Frankly, I would prefer to stay home today.

El plan es bueno, pero honestamente, no tenemos el presupuesto.

The plan is good, but to be honest, we don't have the budget.

Sentence Adverb Placement

When 'honestamente' is used to modify the entire statement (not just the verb), it usually goes at the beginning or after the subject. Using a comma after it is common when starting a sentence.

Mixing up Adjective and Adverb

Mistake: “Using 'honesto' instead of 'honestamente' to modify the whole sentence (e.g., 'Honesto, no me gusta').”

Correction: Always use the full adverb form: 'Honestamente, no me gusta.' The '-mente' ending is essential here.

Choosing between 'francamente' and 'honestamente'

Learners often confuse 'francamente' and 'honestamente'. Use 'francamente' to preface a direct opinion, while 'honestamente' is more about stating something truthfully or with integrity, often modifying the entire sentence.

Related Translations

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