How to Say "in general" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “in general” is “generalmente” — A2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Generalmente, el restaurante está lleno los sábados.
Generally, the restaurant is full on Saturdays.
¿Qué haces los fines de semana? Generalmente leo o salgo a caminar.
What do you do on weekends? I usually read or go for a walk.
Las tiendas pequeñas generalmente cierran a las ocho de la noche.
Small shops usually close at eight o'clock at night.
The '-mente' Rule
Most Spanish adverbs that end in '-mente' are the equivalent of English adverbs ending in '-ly'. They are formed by taking the feminine form of an adjective (like 'general' -> 'general') and adding '-mente'.
Invariable Word
Since 'generalmente' is an adverb, it always stays the same. You don't need to worry about changing the ending to match masculine, feminine, singular, or plural subjects.
Confusing Adverb and Adjective
Mistake: “La gente es general amable. (Incorrect mix of parts of speech)”
Correction: La gente es generalmente amable. (Use the adverb form to modify the adjective 'amable' or the entire sentence.)
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.