en el fondo

at the bottom

deep down

en el fondo(ehn ehl fohn-doh)

phrase

1. (on the base)

a. at the bottom

¿Viste que hay una grieta en el fondo de la bañera?

Did you notice that crack at the bottom of the bathtub?

b. on the bed (of a river or the sea)

Cuando descubrieron el navío, este ya llevaba siglos en el fondo del mar.

When the ship was found, it had already been on the sea bed for centuries.

2.

(figurative)

(at one's heart of hearts)

a. deep down

Siempre se están peleando, pero, en el fondo, se quieren mucho.

They're always fighting, but they love each other very much deep down.

3.

(figurative)

(in reality)

a. actually

Sé que tengo que tomar una decisión, pero en el fondo me da igual una cosa que otra.

I know I must make a decision, but I actually don't care one way or the other.

b. really

Yo creo que Miguel reprobó el examen porque, en el fondo, no quería ir a la universidad.

I think Miguel failed the exam because he didn't really want to go to college.

4.

(figurative)

(in essence)

a. at the bottom

El gobierno no lo quiere admitir, pero, claramente, el aspecto financiero está en el fondo de la cuestión.

The government won't admit it, but the financial aspect is clearly at the bottom of the question.

b. essentially

A mi parecer, amor y respeto son en el fondo una misma cosa.

In my opinion, love and respect are essentially one and the same thing.

c. basically

En el fondo, lo que me estás diciendo es que, si no me dejas, es solo porque te doy pena.

You're basically telling me that you won't leave me just because you feel sorry for me.

5. (at the rear)

a. at the back

No encontraba mis zapatos porque estaban en el fondo del armario.

I couldn't find my shoes because they were at the back of the cupboard.