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How to Say "truly" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “truly” is “realmente” — use this when you want to express that something is genuine or factual, often to contrast a superficial appearance with the underlying reality..

English → Spanish

realmente

/rreh-ahl-MEN-teh//re'al'mente/

adverbB1
Use this when you want to express that something is genuine or factual, often to contrast a superficial appearance with the underlying reality.
A split-panel image. On the left, a plain, closed wooden door. On the right, the door is open, revealing a beautiful, sunny garden inside.

Examples

Parece tímido, pero realmente es muy divertido.

He seems shy, but in fact, he's very fun.

Pensé que la película sería aburrida, pero realmente me encantó.

I thought the movie would be boring, but I actually loved it.

Realmente lo siento, no fue mi intención lastimarte.

I'm truly sorry, it wasn't my intention to hurt you.

Connecting Contrasting Ideas

Realmente is perfect for setting up a contrast. It often appears after pero (but) to reveal the true situation: 'It seems X, but realmente it's Y.'

verdaderamente

/ber-da-de-ra-men-te//beɾðaðeɾaˈmente/

adverbB1
Employ this when you want to strongly affirm the truth or authenticity of a statement, often highlighting sincerity or a high degree of quality.
A single, perfectly formed, vibrant red rose sitting on a simple green stem. The rose is flawless and appears utterly genuine.

Examples

Ella es verdaderamente la mejor candidata para el puesto.

She is truly the best candidate for the position.

Verdaderamente, no pensé que fuera tan difícil.

Really, I didn't think it was so difficult.

El paisaje era verdaderamente espectacular después de la lluvia.

The landscape was veritably spectacular after the rain.

Adverb Formation

Most adverbs that end in '-mente' are formed by taking the feminine form of an adjective (like 'verdadera') and adding the suffix '-mente'. This suffix means 'in a [way]' or 'in a [manner]'.

Confusing Adjective and Adverb

Mistake: “Using the adjective instead of the adverb: 'Esta tarea es verdadero difícil.'”

Correction: Use the adverb when modifying an adjective or verb: 'Esta tarea es verdaderamente difícil.' (This task is truly difficult.)

de veras

adverbial phraseA2informal
Use this informal phrase when asking if something is genuinely true or to express sincere agreement.

Examples

¿De veras te vas a mudar a Japón?

Are you really moving to Japan?

literalmente

lee-teh-rahl-MEHN-teh/liteɾalˈmente/

adverbC1
Use this only when you mean something happened exactly as stated, though it's often used hyperbolically in Spanish to mean 'extremely'.
A highly energized person radiating colorful energy while drinking from a simple coffee mug, showing extreme intensity.

Examples

Literalmente morí de la vergüenza cuando me caí.

I literally died of embarrassment when I fell (meaning: I was extremely embarrassed).

Estaba tan ocupado que, literalmente, no tuve tiempo de comer.

I was so busy that I literally didn't have time to eat (meaning: I truly had no time).

Hyperbolic Usage

In casual speech, 'literalmente' often loses its strict meaning and is used simply to exaggerate a feeling or situation, just like its equivalent in English.

Confusing literal and figurative use

Mistake: “¿Vas a explotar literalmente?”

Correction: This usage is okay if you mean it was shocking, but remember that 'exploding' usually isn't literal. If you mean 'really mad,' say 'Estás a punto de explotar de rabia.'

Confusing 'Realmente' and 'Verdaderamente'

Learners often confuse 'realmente' and 'verdaderamente' as they both convey sincerity. Use 'realmente' for factual truth or to reveal a hidden nature, and 'verdaderamente' to strongly emphasize authenticity or excellence.

Related Translations

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