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How to Say "sincere" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “sincere” is “honesto” — use 'honesto' when referring to someone's straightforwardness, truthfulness, or integrity in their intentions and feelings.

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honesto

oh-NES-tohoˈnesto

AdjectiveA1General
Use 'honesto' when referring to someone's straightforwardness, truthfulness, or integrity in their intentions and feelings.
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-rohsinˈse.ɾo

adjectiveB1General
Use 'sincero' to describe feelings, intentions, or a person's overall demeanor as being free from pretense or deceit.
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.)

auténtica

AdjectiveB2General
Choose 'auténtica' when describing a person or feeling as being true to oneself, genuine, and not artificial.

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.

verdadera

ber-dah-DEH-rahbeɾðaˈðeɾa

AdjectiveB1General
Use 'verdadera' when emphasizing the realness and truthfulness of a feeling, like friendship or love, as opposed to something fake.
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.

genuino

heh-nwee-nohxeˈnwino

adjectiveB1General
Employ 'genuino' to describe emotions or personality traits that are inherently real and not put on, often implying naturalness.
A sparkling, clear diamond resting on a plush red velvet cushion.

Examples

Su alegría parecía genuina, no forzada.

His joy seemed genuine, not forced.

Esta chaqueta está hecha de cuero genuino.

This jacket is made of genuine leather.

Ella mostró un interés genuino por aprender sobre mi cultura.

She showed a genuine interest in learning about my culture.

Es difícil encontrar a alguien tan genuino en este negocio.

It is hard to find someone so sincere in this business.

Matching the Noun

Since this word is a describer (adjective), it must match the gender of the thing it describes. Use 'genuino' for masculine words (el cuero) and 'genuina' for feminine words (la joya).

Where to put it

Usually, 'genuino' comes after the object it describes (e.g., 'un diamante genuino'). If you put it before the noun, it sounds more poetic or emphasizes the quality.

Using 'genuino' for people's health

Mistake: “Me siento genuino hoy.”

Correction: Me siento bien hoy.

Distinguishing 'Honesto' from 'Sincero'

Learners often confuse 'honesto' and 'sincero'. While both relate to truthfulness, 'honesto' leans more towards general honesty and integrity (like not lying), whereas 'sincero' focuses more on the open and direct expression of feelings or intentions without pretense.

Related Translations

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