Inklingo

How to Say "sincerely" in Spanish

English → Spanish

atentamente

/ah-ten-tah-MEN-teh//atenˈtamente/

adverbB1formal
Use 'atentamente' exclusively as a formal closing in letters or emails, similar to 'yours faithfully' or 'sincerely' in English.
A hand placing a wax seal on a folded formal letter.

Examples

Atentamente, María García.

Sincerely, María García.

Atentamente, Juan Pérez.

Sincerely, Juan Pérez.

Le saluda atentamente la gerencia.

Sincerely, the management.

Using 'atentamente' alone

In emails, you can use this word just like 'Sincerely' in English—put it on its own line followed by a comma and your name.

Don't use with friends

Mistake: “Using 'atentamente' in a text to a close friend.”

Correction: Use 'un abrazo' or 'besos' for friends. 'Atentamente' is very formal and would sound cold to a friend.

sinceramente

sin-seh-ra-MEN-tay/sinθeˈɾamente/

adverbB1
Use 'sinceramente' when you want to emphasize that you are expressing your true feelings, opinions, or gratitude honestly.
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, no esperaba este resultado.

Sincerely, I didn't expect this outcome.

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.

Formal Closings vs. Expressing Honesty

The most common mistake is using 'sinceramente' as a formal letter closing. Remember, 'atentamente' is the standard and expected phrase for signing off formally, while 'sinceramente' is for conveying genuine emotion or opinion.

Related Translations

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