en serio
/en ˈseɾjo/
The English slang term 'deadass' can be expressed in Spanish as en serio.
This phrase is used to emphasize that someone is telling the truth or is being completely serious.
Which one should you use?
While en serio emphasizes the seriousness of a statement, de verdad is often used to emphasize the truth or reality of a fact.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
en serio is a versatile phrase that can range from neutral to informal depending on the tone. The related phrase de verdad is also an informal way to express the meaning of 'deadass'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, it is common to use En serio, güey to convey this meaning. In Spain, one might use De verdad, tío/a to express the same sentiment.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase en serio is adverbial and does not change its form to agree with gender or number.
How do you pronounce it?
/en ˈseɾjo/
Did you know?
- In Spain, tío or tía literally means 'uncle' or 'aunt' but is used as a slang filler similar to 'man' or 'girl' when saying de verdad.
- If you call someone a persona seria in a social setting, they might take it as an insult to their personality rather than a comment on their honesty.
- The word serio comes from the Latin sērius, which originally referred to things that were grave or solemn.
Examples in context
- ¿En serio?Deadass?
- ¿Lo dices en serio?Are you being serious?
- En serio, no tengo dinero.Deadass, I don't have any money.
- Ella me lo dijo en serio.She told me seriously/for real.
Example conversation
Maria tells Mateo about a surprising piece of news.
- MaríaGanï yo la lotería, en serio.I won the lottery, deadass.
- Mateo¿En serio? Muéstrame el boleto.Deadass? Show me the ticket.
- MaríaSí, Mateo, no estoy bromeando.Yes, Mateo, I'm not joking.
- Mateo¡Increíble! Estáy muy feliz por ti.Incredible! I'm very happy for you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry en serio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries en, serio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
