- Used to express surprise, disbelief, skepticism, or to seek confirmation.
- Can also be used to show interest and encourage someone to continue speaking.
Explanation
Origin
- Derived from the adjective/adverb real, meaning genuine or actual.
- Asking Really? questions the actuality or truth of a preceding statement.
- Its use as a conversational interjection is fundamental to showing engagement and reaction.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- For real? (Very common equivalent)
- Word? (AAVE/Hip-hop slang, expresses surprise/skepticism, seeks confirmation)
- True dat? (Asking if something is true, less common)
- No cap? (Asking if someone is being truthful, youth slang)
Vulgar/Emphatic (Expressing strong disbelief/shock):
- Are you fucking kidding me?
- What the fuck?
Milder/More Formal:
- Indeed?
- Is that correct?
- Did you really?
Situational Appropriateness
- Appropriate in most contexts, from informal to formal, depending on intonation.
- Skeptical intonation (Really. ↘) can sound rude or challenging, especially in formal or professional settings. Use rising intonation (Really? ↗) for politeness when expressing surprise or seeking confirmation.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- The biggest pitfall is intonation. Learners using a falling/skeptical tone when they mean genuine surprise can unintentionally sound rude or disbelieving.
- Overuse can make someone sound constantly surprised or doubtful.
Examples
- (Surprise) I won the lottery! Really? That's amazing!
- (Disbelief/Skepticism) He said he climbed Mount Everest. Really? I find that hard to believe.
- (Seeking confirmation) So, the meeting is at 3 PM? Yes. Really? I thought it was at 2.
- (Showing interest) I started learning pottery last week. Oh, really? How's it going?
Dialogue
# Surprise/Interest:
Person A: I got accepted into that graduate program!
Person B: Really? ↗ Oh my gosh, congratulations! That's fantastic news!
Person A: Thanks! I'm so excited!
# Skepticism:
Person C: My cousin saw a UFO last night.
Person D: Really. ↘ Are you sure about that?
Person C: Well, that's what he told me!
Social Media Examples
- Comment on a surprising news post: Really? I had no idea!
- Reply to a friend's announcement: You're moving to Japan?! Really? 🤩 Tell me everything!
- Tweet expressing skepticism: Politician promises lower taxes and better services. Really. #skeptic #politics
Response Patterns
- Confirmation: Yes, really! or Yeah, I'm serious.
- Elaboration (if asked with interest): Yeah, it's fun! I made a small bowl...
- Defense (if asked skeptically): Yes, really! Why wouldn't I? or providing evidence.
- Correction (if questioning information): Oh, sorry, yes, you're right, it's at 2.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After hearing Really?:
- Confirm the statement (Yes!).
- Provide more details or evidence.
- Address the perceived skepticism (Why do you sound surprised?).
After saying Really?:
- Listen for the confirmation or elaboration.
- Ask further questions based on the response (Wow, how much did you win?, How was the climb?, So, 2 PM it is?).
Conversation Starter
- No. It's a response to a statement made by someone else.
Intonation
- Crucially dependent on intonation.
- Rising intonation (REALly? ↗) usually indicates genuine surprise, interest, or a request for confirmation.
- Falling or level intonation (REALly. ↘ or →) often indicates skepticism or disbelief, sometimes challenging the speaker.
- Can be drawn out (Reeeeally? →) for stronger skepticism or sarcasm.
Generation Differences
- Universal across all generations. For real? might be slightly more common among younger generations but Really? is standard.
Regional Variations
- Universal in all English-speaking regions.