Inklingo

How to Say "sincere" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “sincere” is “honesto” — use 'honesto' when referring to someone's general character, intentions, or feelings, emphasizing truthfulness and lack of deceit. It's the most basic and widely applicable term..

English → Spanish

honesto

oh-NES-toh/oˈnesto/

AdjectiveA1General
Use 'honesto' when referring to someone's general character, intentions, or feelings, emphasizing truthfulness and lack of deceit. It's the most basic and widely applicable term.
A smiling child in a bright yellow shirt hands a simple brown wallet back to a woman wearing a blue dress, illustrating the concept of honesty.

Examples

Mi hermano es muy honesto y nunca miente.

My brother is very honest and never lies.

¿Puedes darme tu opinión honesta sobre este vestido?

Can you give me your honest opinion on this dress?

Necesitamos un gobierno honesto que trabaje para el pueblo.

We need an honest government that works for the people.

Gender and Number

Since 'honesto' is a describing word, it must match the noun it describes in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural): 'un hombre honesto,' 'una mujer honesta,' 'unos chicos honestos,' 'unas chicas honestas'.

Using ESTAR instead of SER

Mistake: “Soy honesto (I am honest) vs. Estoy honesto (Incorrect).”

Correction: Always use 'ser' (Soy, Eres, Es, etc.) with 'honesto' because honesty is considered a permanent part of someone's character, not a temporary mood or state.

sincero

sin-CEH-roh/sinˈse.ɾo/

adjectiveB1General
Employ 'sincero' to specifically describe feelings or intentions as genuine and without pretense, directly mirroring the English 'sincere'.
A small, friendly storybook bear character stands with its arms open, showing a bright, glowing heart symbol visible in its chest, representing sincerity and openness.

Examples

Mi abuela siempre fue una persona muy sincera.

My grandmother was always a very sincere person.

Te doy mi opinión más sincera sobre el proyecto.

I'm giving you my most honest opinion about the project.

Aunque la verdad era dolorosa, agradeció que el doctor fuera sincero.

Although the truth was painful, he appreciated that the doctor was truthful.

Adjective Agreement

As an adjective, 'sincero' must change its ending to match the noun it describes. Use '-a' for feminine nouns (sincera) and add '-s' for plural nouns (sinceros/sinceras).

Using 'Ser'

This word almost always pairs with the verb 'ser' (to be) because it describes a fundamental quality or personality trait: 'Ella es sincera' (She is sincere).

Forgetting Feminine Form

Mistake: “La profesora es sincero.”

Correction: La profesora es sincera. (Since 'profesora' is feminine, the adjective must end in -a.)

verdadera

/ber-dah-DEH-rah//beɾðaˈðeɾa/

AdjectiveB1General
Use 'verdadera' when describing a feeling, relationship, or quality as 'true' or 'real,' emphasizing authenticity over mere lack of falsehood.
A simple, stylized figure standing with both hands pressed over a large, bright red heart placed on their chest, showing sincerity and heartfelt emotion.

Examples

Ella demostró una amistad verdadera y duradera.

She showed a true and lasting friendship.

Su tristeza parecía muy verdadera y profunda.

Her sadness seemed very sincere and deep.

Confusing 'verdadera' and 'real'

Mistake: “Saying 'una emoción real' when you mean 'una emoción verdadera'.”

Correction: While 'real' works, 'verdadera' is usually preferred when talking about the sincerity or depth of human emotion or connection.

auténtica

AdjectiveB2General
Choose 'auténtica' to describe a person or their feelings as genuine, original, and true to themselves, often implying a unique or non-conformist quality.

Examples

Su personalidad es muy auténtica, siempre dice lo que piensa.

Her personality is very sincere/true to herself; she always says what she thinks.

Choosing Between 'Honesto' and 'Sincero'

Learners often confuse 'honesto' and 'sincero'. While both relate to truthfulness, 'honesto' is broader, referring to general honesty and integrity, whereas 'sincero' specifically targets the genuineness of feelings or intentions.

Related Translations

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