How do you use neta?
You use neta in three ways: as a question (¿Neta?, "really?"), to start an honest opinion (La neta, …, "honestly, …"), and as "for real" (Neta, no fui yo, "For real, it wasn't me").
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¿Neta?Unit 29
Really? (Mexico, very informal)
What you say when a friend tells you something surprising, with a rising tone, like "Really?" in English. The course marks it "Mexico, very informal".
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La neta, no sé.
Honestly, I don't know.
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¿Neta te vas a vivir a Monterrey?
Are you really moving to Monterrey?
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Neta, no fui yo.
For real, it wasn't me.
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Te voy a decir la neta: no me gustó.
I'll be honest with you: I didn't like it.
What does es la neta mean?
Es la neta usually means "it's the truth", and some people also use it to mean "it's the best": Estos tacos son la neta ("These tacos are the best"). When someone is praising a thing, it's the second meaning.
Is neta rude?
No, neta isn't rude, just very informal. Say it to friends, people your age and relaxed coworkers. With your boss, an older stranger or anyone serving you, ¿En serio? ("seriously?") or ¿De veras? ("really?") does the same job politely.
| Who you're talking to | Can you say it? |
|---|---|
| Friends, people your age | Yes |
| Relaxed coworkers | Yes, in a casual chat |
| Your boss, a teacher, an older stranger | No: say ¿En serio? or ¿De veras? |
| A waiter, a shop assistant, a taxi driver | Better not: ¿En serio? is safer |
Which words go with neta?
The words closest to neta are ¿En serio? and ¿De veras? (both "really?", fine with anyone), and two Mexican reactions for friends: ¡No manches! and ¡No inventes! (both "no way!").
| Word | What it means | Who you can say it to |
|---|---|---|
| ¿En serio? | Seriously? Really? | Anyone |
| ¿De veras? | Really? | Anyone |
| la verdad | the truth; honestly (La verdad, no sé) | Anyone |
| ¡No manches! | No way! You're kidding! (more) | Friends |
| ¡No inventes! | No way! (literally "don't make things up") | Friends |
How can you practice Mexican Spanish out loud?
Practice it in short, real exchanges, out loud. CiaoSpeak's Spanish course is set in Mexico City: the lessons teach everyday words like ¿Neta? with a recording and a note on when to use them, and in the Speak tab a taco vendor, a taxi driver or your language-exchange partner Ana asks you one question at a time. You answer by voice (or typing), and the app tells you whether a person would understand you. Lessons are free; in the Speak tab, today's questions (up to five a day) are free too, and CiaoSpeak+ adds practice in any scene whenever you like. More words like this one: the Mexican slang list.
Frequently asked questions
How do you respond to ¿neta?
Answer it like "really?": Sí, neta ("yes, for real"), Sí, en serio or just ¡Sí! If you were joking, say No, es broma ("no, I'm kidding").
Is neta used outside Mexico?
Mostly not: neta is typically Mexican. People in other Spanish-speaking countries may know it from Mexican TV and music, but they say ¿en serio? or ¿de verdad? instead.
Is la neta the same as la verdad?
In meaning, yes: la neta is the casual Mexican way to say la verdad, "the truth". Use la verdad in writing and with people you don't know, and la neta with friends.