Spanish · Greetings & Essentials

"Really?" in Spanish: ¿de verdad?

¿de verdad?

Say it: deh vehr-DAHDadverb/de βeɾˈðað/

Really? in Spanish is ¿de verdad? It marks surprise or asks for confirmation. ¿En serio? is a close casual twin.

Gossip check

¿De verdad? ¿Se mudó ayer?
Really? She moved yesterday?
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How to pronounce ¿de verdad?

Say it

deh vehr-DAHD

/de βeɾˈðað/

deh vehr-DAHD. Stress DAHD. Keep de short and light.

"Really?" in Spanish: quick reference

SpanishEnglish
¿de verdad?really?

Default surprise or check.

¿en serio?seriously? / really?

Very common casual twin.

de verdad que síreally yes / it's true

Strong confirmation.

¿de veras?really?

Also heard; similar meaning.

How to use ¿de verdad? in real life

  1. 1Gossip check

    ¿De verdad? ¿Se mudó ayer?

    Really? She moved yesterday?

    Rising tone.

  2. 2Good news

    ¿De verdad? ¡Qué bueno!

    Really? How great!

    Happy surprise.

  3. 3Price shock

    ¿De verdad? ¿Tanto por un café?

    Really? That much for a coffee?

    Complaint flavor.

Mistakes English speakers make with ¿de verdad?

Incorrect: ¿De vero?

Correct: ¿De verdad?

The noun is verdad: de verdad.

Incorrect: Really? (in Spanish chat).

Correct: ¿De verdad?

Use the Spanish tag.

Good to know

¿De verdad? invites the other person to keep talking. ¿En serio? feels punchier than de verdad in casual Latin American speech.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Hearing about a new job

  1. ChatPal

    Conseguí el puesto en Lima.

    I got the job in Lima.

  2. You

    ¿De verdad? ¡Felicidades!

    Really? Congrats!

  3. ChatPal

    De verdad. Empiezo en mayo.

    Really. I start in May.

  4. You

    Te lo mereces.

    You deserve it.

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"Really?" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Really?" in Spanish

How do you say really? in Spanish?

¿De verdad?

De verdad vs en serio?

Both work; en serio is a bit snappier.

How do you pronounce verdad?

vehr-DAHD with stress on DAHD.

Is this formal or casual?

Neutral—fine at work and with friends.

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