realmente
Lemma Details
Translation: really; truly; actually; indeed; in reality; genuinely
Part of Speech: adverb
Etymology: Derived from the Spanish adjective 'real' (meaning 'real' or 'royal') plus the adverbial suffix '-mente'. The suffix '-mente' in Spanish corresponds to '-ly' in English and comes from the Latin 'mens, mentis' meaning 'mind' or 'intention'. The word 'real' itself comes from Late Latin 'realis', from Latin 'res' meaning 'thing, matter'. The English cognate 'really' follows the same formation pattern (real + ly).
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 80%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Realmente no entiendo lo que está pasando.
I really don't understand what's happening.
¿Te gustó la película? Realmente, no.
Did you like the movie? Actually, no.
Ella es realmente inteligente.
She is truly intelligent.
Realmente, no deberías preocuparte tanto.
Really, you shouldn't worry so much.
¿Realmente crees que eso es posible?
Do you really think that's possible?
Mnemonics
- Think of 'real' + 'mente' (mind) = 'with a real mind' or 'in a real way'
- Sounds like 'really' with a Spanish accent
- Remember that '-mente' is the standard way to form adverbs in Spanish, just like '-ly' in English
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
Used frequently in everyday Spanish conversation, often as an intensifier or to express genuine surprise or agreement. In some contexts, especially at the beginning of a sentence, it can express a stronger emphasis than its English counterpart 'really'.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Realmente' is an adverb meaning 'really' or 'truly', while 'realidad' is a noun meaning 'reality'.
Notes: They share the same root 'real' but serve different grammatical functions.
Mnemonic: 'Realmente' ends in '-mente' like many Spanish adverbs, while 'realidad' ends in '-dad' like many Spanish nouns.
Explanation: 'Realmente' is an adverb meaning 'really', while 'real' is an adjective meaning 'real' or 'royal'.
This word:
Estoy realmente cansado.
I am really tired.
Confused word:
Esta es una situación real.
This is a real situation.
Notes: 'Real' is the base word from which 'realmente' is derived.
Mnemonic: Think of 'realmente' as 'real' + '-mente' (the adverb suffix), while 'real' stands alone as an adjective.