Inklingo

How to Say "frankly" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “frankly” is “francamente” — use this when you want to say 'to be perfectly honest' or 'honestly speaking' as a direct equivalent of 'frankly' to introduce an opinion.

francamente🔊B1

Use this when you want to say 'to be perfectly honest' or 'honestly speaking' as a direct equivalent of 'frankly' to introduce an opinion.

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abiertamente🔊B1

Use this when 'frankly' means speaking openly and without reservation, often about sensitive topics or personal feelings.

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directamente🔊B1

Use this when 'frankly' implies being direct and straightforward in communication, cutting to the chase without embellishment.

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sinceramente🔊B1

Use this to convey a genuine, heartfelt opinion, similar to 'honestly' or 'truly', emphasizing the sincerity of your statement.

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honestamente🔊B2

Use this as a sentence modifier to indicate you are speaking truthfully and without deceit, often to preface a potentially surprising or critical statement.

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English → Spanish

francamente

FRAHN-kah-MEHN-tayfɾaŋkaˈmente

adverbB1
Use this when you want to say 'to be perfectly honest' or 'honestly speaking' as a direct equivalent of 'frankly' to introduce an opinion.
A figure gently holding a stylized mask away from their face, revealing a clear, open expression underneath, symbolizing honesty.

Examples

Francamente, creo que deberíamos reconsiderar esta decisión.

Frankly, I think we should reconsider this decision.

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.)

abiertamente

ah-bee-air-tah-MEN-tehaβjeɾtaˈmente

adverbB1
Use this when 'frankly' means speaking openly and without reservation, often about sensitive topics or personal feelings.
A child smiling and holding their hands out wide, showing an empty and open wooden box to a friend.

Examples

Ella habla abiertamente sobre sus luchas contra la ansiedad.

She talks frankly about her struggles with anxiety.

Ella habla abiertamente de sus problemas.

She talks openly about her problems.

El director admitió abiertamente que cometió un error.

The director openly admitted that he made a mistake.

Muchos ciudadanos se opusieron abiertamente a la nueva ley.

Many citizens openly opposed the new law.

The '-mente' Ending

In Spanish, adding '-mente' to the feminine form of an adjective (abierta) is just like adding '-ly' to an English word. It tells you HOW an action is done.

Word Order for Emphasis

You can place this word after the verb to describe the action, or at the very beginning of a sentence to set the tone for the whole thought.

Confusing with 'Publicly'

Mistake: “Using 'públicamente' when you mean 'honestly'.”

Correction: Use 'abiertamente' when someone is sharing their internal thoughts or feelings honestly, not just when they are in a public place.

Missing the 'a' ending

Mistake: “abiertomente”

Correction: abiertamente. When creating these words, you must always use the 'a' (feminine) version of the original adjective.

directamente

dee-rek-tah-MEN-tehdi.ɾek.taˈmen.te

adverbB1
Use this when 'frankly' implies being direct and straightforward in communication, cutting to the chase without embellishment.
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

Te lo digo directamente: no estoy de acuerdo con tu plan.

I'll tell you frankly: I don't agree with your plan.

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-taysinθeˈɾamente

adverbB1
Use this to convey a genuine, heartfelt opinion, similar to 'honestly' or 'truly', emphasizing the sincerity of your statement.
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, esperaba algo mucho mejor de este restaurante.

Frankly, I was expecting something much better from this restaurant.

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-tayo.nes.taˈmen.te

adverbB2
Use this as a sentence modifier to indicate you are speaking truthfully and without deceit, often to preface a potentially surprising or critical statement.
A character speaks directly and openly to a listener, using hand gestures that emphasize straightforward communication, representing 'frankly'.

Examples

Honestamente, no creo que tengamos suficiente tiempo.

Frankly, I don't think we have enough time.

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 'Abiertamente'

Learners often confuse 'francamente' and 'abiertamente'. Use 'francamente' when 'frankly' simply means 'to be honest' to introduce an opinion. Reserve 'abiertamente' for situations where someone is speaking openly and without inhibition about something, like personal feelings or controversial topics.

Related Translations

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