constantemente v permanentemente

Question

It seems to me that "permanentemente" can mean "permanently" or "constantly," whereas "constantemente" means "constantly" but not "permanently."

So, for example, when talking about a volcano constantly spewing ashes, you could say "El volcán despide permamentemente ceniza, humo y gas. From the context, I would think the ashes spew constantly but not permanently.

Just wanted to see if anyone else has another perspective on this.

Bienvenido al foro! - --Mariana--, Jul 21, 2012

Answer 1

Bienvenidos al foro abierto en SpanishDict. Welcome to the open forum at SpanishDict.

It’s amazing, isn’t it Ron Sailon?...I mean “Word selection”.

Things can be constant without becoming permanent. However, things that are permenant will always be constantly with us.

“El volcán despide constantemente ceniza, humo y gas. La ceniza puede ser permamente parte del suelo…en una forma química u otra.

This is not a permanent never ending spiting...but at present time..a seemingly constant procedure.

The volcano constantly spits ash, smoke and gas. The ash can be a permanent part of the soil…in one chemical form or another.

So, whoever wrote the original sentence was misinformed about the usage of word meaning. ?

So can we say that constantemente is for activity, but permanentemente (¡Tío!) is for states? - Enderby, Jul 21, 2012

Answer 2

Things can be constant without becoming permanent. However, things that are permenant will always be constantly with us.

So true!