Spanish · Emotions & Descriptions
"Serious" in Spanish: serio/a
serio/a
Serious in Spanish is serio or seria. Él es serio. Ella es seria. Plurals: serios and serias. En serio means seriously.
Checking a joke
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How to pronounce serio/a
Say it
SEH-ryoh / SEH-ryah
/ˈse.ɾjo/, /ˈse.ɾja/
SEH-ryoh / SEH-ryah. Stress SEH. Soft s; r is a tap.
"Serious" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| serio | serious (masc.) Mood or character. | Mood or character. |
| seria | serious (fem.) Feminine form. | Feminine form. |
| en serio | seriously / for real Fixed phrase. | Fixed phrase. |
| problema serio | serious problem Agree with the noun. | Agree with the noun. |
How to use serio/a in real life
- 1Checking a joke
¿Hablas en serio?
Are you speaking seriously?
En serio is a set phrase.
- 2About a boss
Mi jefe es muy serio en la oficina.
My boss is very serious in the office.
Serio with jefe.
- 3About a sister
María está seria hoy.
María looks serious today.
Seria agrees with María.
Mistakes English speakers make with serio/a
Incorrect: Ella es serio.
Correct: Ella es seria.
Agree gender: seria with ella.
Incorrect: ¿Hablas serio?
Correct: ¿Hablas en serio?
Use the set phrase en serio.
Good to know
En serio is extremely common in Latin American chat and speech. Serio/a can mean solemn character or a grave problem. Soft smile keeps ¿En serio? friendly.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
A friend announces a sudden trip
ChatPal
¿Vas a México mañana? ¿En serio?
You're going to Mexico tomorrow? Seriously?
You
Sí, en serio. Compré el boleto ayer.
Yes, seriously. I bought the ticket yesterday.
ChatPal
Qué noticia tan seria y emocionante.
What a serious and exciting piece of news.
You
Te mando fotos del viaje.
I'll send you photos of the trip.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Serious" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Serious" in Spanish
How does gender work?
Serio (m.), seria (f.), plurals serios / serias.
What does en serio mean?
Seriously, or for real.
Ser or estar?
Ser serio for character. Estar serio for a serious look now.
How do I say a serious problem?
Un problema serio.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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