ser sincero
/seɾ sinθeɾo/from spelling rules
To be honest in Spanish is ser sincero.
The phrase is used to express the act of telling the truth and speaking sincerely about one's thoughts or feelings. A way to use this in conversation is the phrase Para ser sincero, which functions as a sentence starter equivalent to the English 'To be honest' or 'Frankly'. In some Latin American countries, the informal expression hablando claro (speaking clearly) carries a similar meaning in informal contexts.
Which one should you use?
While ser honesto is a direct translation of 'to be honest', ser sincero often sounds more natural when you are specifically referring to the sincerity of someone's feelings or opinions.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain Latin American countries, the expression hablando claro is used informally to mean 'speaking clearly', but it carries the same underlying idea as 'be honest'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree with the person being described. If the person is female, use ser sincera. For a group of men or a mixed-gender group, use the masculine plural ser sinceros. If the group consists only of women, use the feminine plural ser sinceras.
How do you pronounce it?
/seɾ sinθeɾo/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, if you want to tell someone to 'be honest' in a very blunt or direct way, you might use the phrase hablar sin rodeos, which literally means 'to speak without detours'.
- The verb ser used in this phrase shares a distant ancestor with the Latin verb sedēre, which means 'to sit'.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, starting a sentence with Para ser sincero can signal that the speaker is about to deliver a critique or bad news.
Examples in context
- Tienes que ser sincero.You have to be honest.This sentence uses ser sincero to express a necessity to be honest.Tatoeba #4791967 by alegarvid, translation #4493678 by CK
- Para ser sincero, yo no soy tu padre.To be honest, I'm not your father.This sentence uses Para ser sincero as a starter to express a personal truth.Tatoeba #744875 by Shishir, translation #1442244 by marcelostockle
- Para ser sincero, yo también quiero aprender japonés.To be honest, I want to study Japanese too.This sentence uses Para ser sincero to introduce a personal desire.Tatoeba #9740060 by Shishir, translation #4586770 by Rime
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are discussing a difficult decision at a cafe.
- Lucía¿Puedes ser sincero conmigo sobre tus planes?Can you be honest with me about your plans?
- MateoPrefiero ser sincero y decirte que no estoy seguro.I prefer to be honest and tell you that I am not sure.
- LucíaAgradezco que quieras ser sincero conmigo, Mateo.I appreciate that you want to be honest with me, Mateo.
- MateoSiempre trato de ser sincero contigo, Lucía.I always try to be honest with you, Lucía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ser, sincero, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
