“True” meaning of “por cierto”

Question

I have always thought of the expression of "por cierto" as meaning "certainly" or "surely." It certainly "looks" that way (for certainly). And even Google Translate gives it that meaning, as well as "by the by" (which is similar to "by the way").

Yet when I used this as an answer on another question (since deleted), a native speaker said that it is NEVER used as "surely" or "certainly" in Spain. And the answer was down voted.

I'm confused. What's going on? Is "Por cierto" somehow a "false friend" word? Or is this an acceptable translation in Mexico and/or some South American countries, even though this might not be the case in Spain?

I am an American who has learned "New World" Spanish.

Answer 1

As you can see at the RAE, "por cierto" has both meanings of "certainly" and "by the way".

I didn't know this until I had a look at it. Here in Spain we only use it as "by the way". So it seems that it also has the meaning of "certainly" in other Spanish speaking countries in America, but not in Spain.

Answer 2

"Por cierto" normally means "by the way" but it's not always true, like in "cuando algo es tomado por cierto..." or "por cierto objeto", if "por cierto" is used just "por cierto" and "por cierto," means "by the way"

Answer 3

I cannot say for sure this is a fact in each and every Spanish speaking country, but I am pretty sure that the most common use of "por cierto" is "by the way".

The link that JoulSauron added from the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language will certainly include each and every correct use of a word or phrase, but in a lot of cases a lot of those uses and even a lot of the words are not used any more nowadays. It does not mean it is incorrect, only that is not common anymore.

I find that there will be quite a few "unfair downvotes" in this site since most of us Spanish speaking people do not know each and every word, present or past, nor each and every use of each of the words we commonly use.

This I find kind of sad, since Spanish is such a rich language, but is a fact of most languages in the world.

Answer 4

"Por cierto" is not always "by the way", and it is wrong to down vote any answer that involves a word/s that are not used in Spain.

The term "false friend word" is only used when two words or phrases in two languages or dialects (or letters in two alphabets) look or sound similar, but differ in meaning.

for sure, by the way, certainly and surely will be correct translations of "Por cierto" depending on the place (geographically differences in the use of) and on the phrase/context.

From sports these days you can see for example on F1 drivers (from non English speaking countries) using "for sure"

Q: Do you have all in place to win the race today?
A: For sure, the team and the car are in optimal conditions today.
A: Por cierto, el equipo y el auto estan en optimas condiciones hoy.

But note that the same could easyly translated to other forms of affirmations like "De seguro", "por supuesto", "Claro / claro que si"

Commonly used in politics speeches the use of "De por cierto, | delo de por cierto"

Q: If you win the elections, will you get us all of this hole ?
A: For sure, I will put this country on the right path.
A: Delo de por cierto, Yo pondre ente pais en el camino correcto.

Expressions and common uses these days

 Por cierto, antes de que me olvide => By the way, before I forget
More commonly: (ah, oh) Antes de que me olvide


 De por cierto que vamos a ganar => Take for sure that we will win.
More commonly: Seguro que vamos a ganar


 Por cierto que voy => For sure I go
More commonly: Claro que voy


 Por cierto que parezca no the creo => Fore true that it looks I don't
   believe you
Remain the same


 Voy por cierto camino => I go true some way/path
Remain the same


 Por camino cierto => true the right path
Remain the same

• cierto = true
• por = for
• for true = wrong but the close thing is for sure

You can consider "por cierto" as an expression or phrase that had been replaced by other words and no longer is widely used, despite that, in some places still used in its original form and meaning. It is a word that you can easily avoid and or replace with quite a few others. For sure, if your are not sure about it's true meaning, surely you can avoid it, certainly you will find other words :)

Answer 5

This is not a Spain/not Spain question. It is a question about written versus spoken Spanish.

Por cierto, from the Spanish>English hard copy Larousse under locuciones:

1) of course or indeed

2) spoken form: by the way. It is followed by three periods, meaning speech.

Three examples of meaning (1) from the Spanish press:

1. Meaning (1) Entre todas ellas pagan una auténtica miseria comparado con lo que pagan en el Reino Unido. Y, por cierto, la prensa liberal británica reclama a las autoridades fiscales que acaben con este abuso de poder (lo de España tiene otro nombre que abuso).

   Translation: And, indeed, the liberal British press is demanding the tax authorities do away this abuse of power.

   El Día de Córdoba

2. Meaning (1) En todo caso, un programa de reformas al que por cierto la prensa ha dado escasísima cobertura y que recuerda mucho a las 100 medidas que presentó en su día Miguel Sebastián.

   Translation: In any event, a reform program that, of course, the press has scarcely covered and which is very reminiscent of the 100 measures that Miguel Sebastián presented in his time.

   Europa Press

3. Meaning (1) — Por cierto, la abuela compra todos los años el mismo número. Dice que algún día tocará. ¿Si haces eso se elevan tus posibilidades de ganar?

   Translation: Of course, your grandmother buys the same number every year. She said that one day, she'll win. If you do this, do your chances of winning improve?

   Please note: although the sentence above could be begun with by the way, that doesn't work so well here.

   NIUS website

[Note: please do not edit, I have it like I want it. Thanks.]