en serio
/en ˈseɾjo/
The English phrase 'seriously' can be translated into Spanish using en serio or seriamente.
Meaning: in a serious or literal manner (adv)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| en serio | /en ˈseɾjo/ |
| seriamente | /ˌseɾjaˈmente/ |
These terms are used to express that something is being done in a serious, literal or sincere manner. You can also use the standalone question ¿En serio? to express surprise or skepticism, much like asking 'Really?' in English. In informal settings, you might also use de verdad to express sincerity or sin bromas to mean 'no joking'.
Which one should you use?
en serio is often used informally to mean 'for real' or to express disbelief. In contrast, seriamente is used to describe the manner in which an action is performed, such as thinking seriously about a problem.
How does it change in a sentence?
Unlike many English adverbs, en serio is a prepositional phrase and does not change its form based on gender or number.
How do you pronounce it?
/en ˈseɾjo/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, calling a person serio can be a compliment about their character, meaning they are 'reliable' or 'trustworthy' in business dealings.
- The adverbial suffix -mente in seriamente evolved from the Latin word mente, meaning 'mind'. To do something seriamente is literally to do it with a 'serious mind'.
- The phrase tomarse en serio is versatile enough to describe a person's professional commitment or the transition of a casual romantic relationship into a committed one.
Examples in context
- No te lo tomes en serio.Don't take it seriously.This sentence shows how to use en serio when telling someone not to take something seriously.Tatoeba #1702933 by marcelostockle, translation #32821 by CK
- Nadie nos toma en serio.No one takes us seriously.This sentence uses en serio to describe how people are being taken by others.Tatoeba #2101502 by Shishir, translation #2091180 by CK
- No me lo tomé tan en serio.I didn't take it that seriously.This sentence demonstrates the use of en serio to describe the degree to which something was taken seriously.Tatoeba #5665222 by arh, translation #5660181 by CK
- ¿En serio crees que eso es posible?Do you seriously believe that is possible?
- De verdad necesitamos solucionar este problemaWe seriously need to solve this problem.
- Sinceramente, no entiendo cómo pudo ocurrir esoSeriously, I don't understand how that could have happened.
- ¿En serio te pareció buena idea?Seriously, did you think it was a good idea?
- De verdad, no me gusta cómo trata a las personasSeriously, I don't like how he/she treats people.
- Vamos, sin bromas, necesito que me ayudes ahoraCome on, seriously, I need you to help me now.
- En serio, no puedo creer lo que estás diciendo.Seriously, I can't believe what you're saying.
- De verdad necesito que me escuches.Seriously, I need you to listen to me.
- Sin bromas, este asunto es muy importante.Seriously, this matter is very important.
- ¿En serio piensas que esto es un chiste?Seriously, do you think this is a joke?
- En serio, no entiendo por qué tomaste esa decisión.Seriously, I don't understand why you made that decision.
- 93 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro tells Lucía about an unexpected job offer.
- AlejandroMe han ofrecido un nuevo trabajo.I have been offered a new job.
- Lucía¿Lo dices en serio, Alejandro?Are you serious, Alejandro?
- AlejandroSí, lo digo en serio.Yes, I am being serious.
- Lucía¡Qué buena noticia!That is great news!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “seriously” translations and entries en serio, seriamente, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries en, seriamente, serio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
