student asking question

It seems that "seriously" and "really" have the same meaning, but is it important to know when to use which one?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

"Seriously" and "really" are both very similar and can often be interchangeable. However there is a bit of a difference between the two words. The word "really" is a little more neutral and is mostly used when verifying a fact or making sure that something is actually true. Ex: Are you really going to move to New York? The word "seriously", on the other hand, is often used to express disbelief towards something. "Seriously" is often used for the similar meaning of the expression "are you kidding me". Ex: Is she seriously dropping out of school?

Popular Q&As

03/28

Complete the expression with a quiz!