How do you use "Literally" in a sentence?

I'm literally dying. It was literally the worst day ever. I literally cannot even.

Literally

Slang Term AmericanBritishAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Casual

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Meaning: Used for emphasis, even when not literally true; intensifier.

用于强调，即使并非字面意义上的真实；加强语气词。

Se usa para enfatizar, incluso cuando no es literalmente cierto; intensificador.

文字通りでなくても強調として使う。強意語。

강조로 쓰이는 표현, 실제로 문자 그대로가 아니어도 사용; 강의어.

'Literally' as an intensifier means 'really' or 'very'—even when describing non-literal things. 'I'm literally dying' = I'm extremely amused. This usage annoys prescriptivists but is now accepted.

「Literally」作为加强语气词意思是「真的」或「非常」——即使描述的不是字面意思。「I'm literally dying」＝我笑死了。这种用法让语法纯粹主义者恼火，但现在已被接受。

«Literally» como intensificador significa «de verdad» o «muy», incluso cuando describe cosas no literales. «I'm literally dying» = me estoy muriendo de risa. Este uso irrita a los puristas, pero ya está aceptado.

強意語としての「Literally」は「本当に」「めちゃくちゃ」の意味——比喩的なことを表す時でも使う。「I'm literally dying」＝めちゃくちゃ面白い。この用法は文法厳格主義者を苛立たせるが、現在は受け入れられている。

'리터럴리(literally)'를 강의어로 쓰면 '정말' 또는 '완전'이라는 뜻이다—비유적인 상황에서도 쓴다. 'I'm literally dying' = 엄청 웃긴다. 문법주의자들은 싫어하지만 현재는 널리 통용된다.

Examples

I'm literally dying.
我真的要死了
Literalmente me muero
マジで死にそう
진짜 죽을 것 같아.
It was literally the worst day ever.
那真的是有史以来最糟糕的一天
Fue literalmente el peor día de mi vida
文字通り人生最悪の日だった
말 그대로 인생 최악의 날이었어.
I literally cannot even.
我真的不能了
Literalmente no puedo ni
マジで無理
진짜 아무것도 못 하겠어.

Pronunciation

/ˈlɪtərəli/

Usage Guide

Context: emphasis, hyperbole, expression

Tone: emphatic

✓ Do Say

Literally
真的、简直
literalmente
マジで
진짜로
I literally can't
我真的不行了
literalmente no puedo
マジで無理
진짜 못 하겠어

✗ Don't Say

Annoys prescriptivists
会让语法纯粹主义者感到恼火
Irrita a los puristas del lenguaje
文法厳格主義者を苛立たせる
문법주의자들이 싫어하는 표현

Common Mistakes

Not actually literal in Gen Z usage

Origin & History

The emphatic use of 'literally' dates back centuries but became a Gen Z signature. Often combined with hyperbole. Prescriptivists object but dictionaries have accepted the intensifier meaning.

Etymology: Standard English word used as emphatic intensifier

First recorded: Emphatic usage centuries old, Gen Z signature

Cultural Context

Era: Emphatic usage centuries old, Gen Z signature

Generation: Gen Z, Millennials

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Memes; Chris Traeger (Parks & Rec)

Regional notes: English-language universal.

Variations

LiterallyLit-ruh-lee