La mar de = really

Question

I understand how "La mar de" means "really" but just to double check, are the following sentences correct?

• Estoy la mar de feliz. (I'm really happy).
• Eres la mar de inútil . (you're really useless).
• Son la mar de tontos. (They're really stupid.).

I'm also confused if "la mar de" can be used anywhere "really" would work.

• Me siento la mar de enfermo. (I feel really sick).
• Me alegre que mis amigos nuevos sean la mar de chéveres (I'm happy that my new friends are really cool).
• Me gustan chicas la mar de simpáticos. (I like girls that are really nice).

Also, how do you say "For real" in Spanish? As in "He's ugly. For real." - HackerKing, Nov 24, 2012

Answer 1

La mar is used in Spain and it's not so common in Latin America. It does mean very. And I've heard it mostly in positive contexts. So la mar de inútil, enfermo, are not so common, but are not wrong.

He's ugly. For real. You can use la mar here in a negative context. Él es la mar de feo.

I'm glad you said it was not common in Latin America because I had never heard it before. - gringojrf, Nov 24, 2012

Thanks! - HackerKing, Nov 24, 2012

Answer 2

Hello Hackerking, In México we don´t say "la mar" but I understand "la mar" means "muy" instead of "really". I think it emphasizes the characteristics (tontos, feliz, etc.)

Answer 3

I would think of "la mar de" as "infinitamente" or just "muy". Although I've never heard it, actually.