máxime
/ˈmaɡsime/
The Spanish word for mainly is máxime. Wiktionary also lists mayormente and máximamente.
Meaning: chiefly, certainly for the most part (adv)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| máxime | /ˈmaɡsime/ |
| mayormente | /maˌʝoɾˈmente/ |
| máximamente | /maɡsimamente/ (from spelling rules) |
These words are used to indicate that something is true for the most part or chiefly.
Which one should you use?
Principalmente is a very common and natural synonym that may be easier for English speakers to use than mayormente.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin America, principalmente is more commonly used than mayormente to express 'mainly'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmaɡsime/
Did you know?
- Using máxime in a casual setting can make a speaker sound as if they are reciting a legal document from the 18th century.
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, mayormente is considered a 'calque', meaning it was adopted as a literal translation of the English word 'mostly'.
- Unlike English, where 'mainly' is a simple adverb, Spanish often avoids using mayormente in favor of a phrase like sobre todo, which literally means 'above all'.
Examples in context
- Las personas que usan tenedores mayormente son de Europa, América del Norte y Sur, los que usan palillos son del este de Asia y los que usan sus dedos son de África, Medio Oriente, Indonesia e India.Fork-users are mainly in Europe, North America, and Latin America, chopstick-users in eastern Asia and finger-users in Africa, the Middle East, Indonesia, and India.This sentence illustrates how to use mayormente to describe the distribution of certain populations.Tatoeba #725580 by arashi_29, translation #34380 by Swift
- El proyecto se enfoca principalmente en la sostenibilidad ambiental.The project mainly focuses on environmental sustainability.
- El discurso se basa esencialmente en principios éticos.The speech is mainly based on ethical principles.
- Me gustan mayoritariamente las películas de comedia.I mainly like comedy movies.
- Me alimento básicamente de vegetales.I mainly eat vegetables.
- Mis amigos son sobre todo / en su mayoría músicos.My friends are mainly musicians.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are discussing the reasons for a company's success.
- AlejandroEl éxito se debe máxime a la nueva estrategia.The success is mainly due to the new strategy.
- SofíaTienes razón, Alejandro, fue un cambio muy necesario.You are right, Alejandro, it was a very necessary change.
- Alejandro¿Crees que el equipo también ayudó mucho?Do you think the team also helped a lot?
- SofíaSí, Sofía cree que el trabajo en equipo fue clave.Yes, Sofía believes that teamwork was key.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mainly” translations and entries máxime, mayormente, máximamente, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
