Really
Use this to express surprise or disbelief, like asking 'Seriously?'
A very common alternative to '¿En serio?', especially popular in Mexico.
A more literal translation, similar to 'truly' or 'actually'. It's often used for emphasis rather than surprise.
The food is really very good.
A: I have a new car. B: Really?
A: My sister lives in Peru. B: Really? That's great!
I really need your help with this.
'De verdad' and '¿En serio?' are universally understood and used. 'Realmente' is also common but can sound slightly more formal.
'¿De veras?' is extremely common here, used just as much as, if not more than, '¿En serio?'.
'¿En serio?' is the most frequent way to express surprise. 'De verdad' is also very common for emphasis.
'¿En serio?' is the standard phrase. Informally, you will also hear '¿Posta?', which is very characteristic of Argentine slang.
'De verdad' and '¿En serio?' are the most common choices. '¿De veras?' is understood but sounds a bit old-fashioned or Latin American to them.
Using 'real' as an adverb. English speakers might say 'Es real bueno,' which is incorrect. You must use 'de verdad' or 'realmente': 'Es de verdad bueno' or 'Es realmente bueno'.
Overusing 'realmente'. While it's a correct translation, it can sound a bit stiff in casual conversation. 'De verdad' and '¿en serio?' are much more common and natural among friends.
Confusing the statement and question forms. When asking 'Really?', you must use the rising intonation of a question with '¿De verdad?', '¿En serio?', or '¿De veras?'. Without it, 'De verdad' is a statement of emphasis.
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