directamente

Directamente is a Spanish adverb meaning directly, straight, without intermediaries, or without detours; it can also convey immediacy, as in doing something right away. It derives from the adjective directo and the suffix -mente, with an etymology tracing back to Latin directus, meaning guided or straight.

As an adverb, directamente modifies verbs, clauses, or entire sentences to indicate a direct action, a non-stop path, or immediacy. Examples include: “Llegó directamente desde la oficina” (he arrived directly from the office), “Habla directamente” (speak directly / without beating around the bush). The word is versatile across tenses and registers, appearing in formal, informal, written, and spoken Spanish.

Common usages include hablar directamente, ir directamente al grano, or ir/directamente a un lugar (to go directly to a place). It also appears in phrases emphasizing lack of intermediaries or delays, such as “de forma directa” or “sin rodeos.” The antonym is indirectamente.

Notes on meaning and nuance: directly emphasizes straight path or unmediated action rather than a roundabout route; it can indicate speed or immediacy, but also clarity or candor depending on context. The term is widely used in Spanish-language text and speech and is typically translated into English as “directly.” It is not inflected for gender or number, as adverbs do not vary. See also directo, de forma directa, and indirectamente for related expressions.