al pie de la letra

es
en
Change language
Translating...
to the letter, literally
Find language
Deutsch
German
Español
Spanish
Français
French
Italiano
Italian
Português
Portuguese
/al ˈpje ðe la ˈletɾa/
Add to My Dictionary
In My Dictionary
+1
Exactly as written or said, without changing or reinterpreting anything.
Practice using al pie de la letra in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • El equipo cumplió el acuerdo al pie de la letra.
    The team honoured the agreement to the letter.
  • Copió el texto al pie de la letra, sin corregir nada.
    He copied the text word for word, correcting nothing.
  • Si interpretas la norma al pie de la letra, ignoras su propósito.
    If you interpret the rule literally, you miss its purpose.
  • No tomes esa broma al pie de la letra.
    Do not take that joke literally.
  • Siguió las instrucciones al pie de la letra.
    She followed the instructions to the letter.

Similar words

literalmente
sin variar nada
exactamente
a la letra

Meanings

To the letter

literalness
neutral
Follows words or instructions exactly, sometimes too literally.

Examples

  • Siguió las instrucciones al pie de la letra.
    She followed the instructions to the letter.
  • No tomes esa broma al pie de la letra.
    Do not take that joke literally.
  • Copió el texto al pie de la letra, sin corregir nada.
    He copied the text word for word, correcting nothing.
  • El equipo cumplió el acuerdo al pie de la letra.
    The team honoured the agreement to the letter.
  • Si interpretas la norma al pie de la letra, ignoras su propósito.
    If you interpret the rule literally, you miss its purpose.

Similar words

literalmente
exactamente
sin variar nada
a la letra

Etymology

With letra, “letter”, the phrase evokes staying with the text down to its smallest part.

FAQ

What does al pie de la letra mean?

Exactly as stated, without alteration.

Can it describe following instructions?

Yes, carrying them out precisely.

Can it describe understanding a joke?

Yes, taking it literally rather than as a joke.

Is exactness always good?

No. A literal reading may miss the intended meaning.

What is a natural English equivalent?

“To the letter” or “literally”.

Comments & contributions

Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
Posting as a guest · Sign in
No comments yet. Be the first to add one.
Look up word or phrase...