naturalmente

Naturalmente is a Romance-language adverb used in Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese to express naturalness, obviousness, or certainty, and to function as a discourse marker meaning “of course” or “as one would expect.” It is widely used in both formal and informal speech and writing.

Etymology and forms: The form arises from the adjective natural(e) in the respective language, with the suffix -mente forming an adverb. In Latin, related forms include naturalis (adjective) and naturaliter (adverb). The Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese words natural-mente ultimately trace back to Latin.

Usage: In Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, natural-mente constructions describe a natural state or introduce a proposition with apparent inevitability or agreement. Examples: Italian: “Naturalmente, dobbiamo rispettare le regole.” Spanish: “Naturalmente, estoy de acuerdo contigo.” Portuguese: “Naturalmente, concordo com você.” The word can also appear as a sentence-initial discourse marker: “Naturalmente, …” Its tone can be neutral or carry emphasis on obviousness, depending on context and intonation.

Translations and nuance: In English, naturalmente is commonly translated as naturally, obviously, or of course, depending on context. The choice among these equivalents affects tone: naturally emphasizes a inherent quality, of course signals shared assumption, and obviously can sound more emphatic or ironic in certain contexts.

See also: Similar adverbial formations in Romance languages include French naturellement and Portuguese naturalmente, which share the same semantic range.