ciertas
“ciertas” means “certain” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
certain, some
Also: a few
📝 In Action
Necesitamos revisar ciertas cláusulas del contrato.
A2We need to review certain clauses of the contract.
Ciertas personas siempre llegan tarde a las reuniones.
B1Certain people always arrive late to meetings.
Hay ciertas cosas que es mejor no preguntar.
A2There are some things it's better not to ask.
true, sure
Also: correct
📝 In Action
Necesitamos pruebas ciertas antes de hacer una acusación.
B1We need true/sure proof before making an accusation.
Las noticias ciertas sobre el evento se publicarán mañana.
B2The true/accurate news about the event will be published tomorrow.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "ciertas" in Spanish:
correct→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ciertas
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'ciertas' to mean 'true' or 'accurate'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word *certus*, meaning 'sure,' 'fixed,' or 'established.' The Spanish word 'ciertas' retains the original sense of certainty (when placed after the noun) and developed the derived sense of referring to an unspecified but definite group (when placed before the noun).
First recorded: 12th century (as 'cierto')
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'ciertas' means 'true' or 'some'?
The position of the word tells you! If 'ciertas' is placed *before* the noun (Ciertas reglas), it means 'some' or 'unspecified.' If it is placed *after* the noun (Reglas ciertas), it means 'true' or 'correct.' This simple rule applies to all forms of 'cierto/a/os/as'.
Why is 'ciertas' always feminine and plural?
'Ciertas' is the feminine plural form of the adjective 'cierto.' It must be used only when describing feminine plural nouns, like 'cosas' (things), 'reglas' (rules), or 'amigas' (friends).