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"really, truly" in seven languages

Meaningreally, truly

Spanish

de verdad

/de beɾˈdad/

other source · verdad ← Latin VĒRITĀTEM 'truth'

Realmente is also common, a learned word like English 'really'.

French

vraiment

/vʁɛmɑ̃/

other source · vrai ← spoken Latin *VĒRĀCUM (VĒRĀX 'truthful') + -ment

Italian

davvero

/davˈvero/

other source · da + vero ← Latin VĒRUM 'true'

Portuguese

de verdade

/dʒi vehˈdadʒi/

other source · verdade ← Latin VĒRITĀTEM 'truth'

In conversation Brazilians just as often say Sério?

Romanian

într-adevăr

/ɨntr adeˈvər/

other source · în + adevăr 'truth' (Latin AD DĒ VĒRUM)

As a reply, Serios? is more casual.

Catalan

de debò

/də dəˈbɔ/

other source · Old Catalan de de bo 'in good (earnest)', Latin BONUM

English

really

/ˈɹili/

other source · real (Anglo-French, from Late Latin REĀLIS) + -ly

English → Italianreally, trulydavveroNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: very, verity, verify (VĒRUS).What English and Italian share

The story

All three build on Latin VĒRUS 'true', each through a different word: Spanish 'truth' (VĒRITĀTEM → verdad), French 'truthful' (vrai), Italian plain 'true' (vero). English 'very' comes from the French branch.

English relatives: very, verity, verify (VĒRUS)

Sound laws at work

-TĀTEM: -dad, -té, -tàAdverbs in -mente / -ment

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In a sentence

  • es¿De verdad?
  • frVraiment ?
  • itDavvero?
  • ptDe verdade?
  • roÎntr-adevăr?
  • caDe debò?
  • enReally?

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