serio

serious

serio(seh-ryoh)

adjective

1. (solemn)

a. serious

Por el tono de voz serio del doctor, supe que los resultados no eran buenos.

I could tell by the doctor's serious tone of voice that the results weren't good.

2. (grave)

a. serious

El juez lo condenó a cadena perpetua por cometer un delito serio.

The judge gave him a life sentence because he committed a serious crime.

3. (responsible)

a. reliable

Estoy buscando a una niñera seria, cariñosa y paciente para cuidar a mis hijos.

I'm looking for a reliable, loving, and patient nanny to take care of my children.

4. (sincere)

a. earnest

Cuando ella vio el anillo, supo que su propuesta de matrimonio era seria.

When she saw the ring, she knew his proposal was earnest.

serio

adjective

1. (grave, importante)

a. serious

estar serioto look serious

es una enfermedad muy seriait's a very serious illness

2. (responsable)

a. responsible

3. (cumplidor, formal)

a. reliable

no son gente seriathey are very unreliable

lo que no es serio es que ahora digan que necesitan dos meses máswhat's really unacceptable is that now they're saying they need another two months

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serio

adjective

1 [+expresión, tono] serious

¿por qué estás hoy tan serio? why are you (looking) so serious today?; su padre es muy serio his father's a very serious person; se quedó mirándome muy serio he looked at me very seriously; he stared gravely at me; pareces muy serio you're looking very serious; ponerse serio: se puso seria al ver la foto she went o became serious when she saw the photo; me voy a poner seria contigo si no estudias I'm going to get cross with you if you don't do some studying

2

en serio seriously; tomar un asunto en serio to take a matter seriously; no hablaba en serio I wasn't serious

hablo en serio

¿lo dices en serio? are you serious?; do you really mean it?

3 [+problema, enfermedad, pérdida] serious

esto se pone serio this is getting serious

4 (fiable) [+persona] reliable; [+trato] straight; honest

es una persona poco seria he's not very reliable; una empresa seria a reliable firm; no es serio que ahora decidan echarse atrás it's not very responsible of them to back out now

5 (severo)

el negro es un color demasiado serio para una niña black is too serious o severe a colour for a young girl; lleva un traje muy serio he's wearing a very formal suit

6 [+estudio, libro] serious