confesar
/kon-feh-SAR/
to confess
To 'confesar' means to admit guilt or wrongdoing.
confesar(verb)
to confess
?to admit guilt or wrongdoing
,to admit
?to reveal a secret or truth
to own up
?informal admission
📝 In Action
El ladrón confesó su crimen a la policía.
A2The thief confessed his crime to the police.
Debo confesar que no me gustó la película.
B1I must admit that I didn't like the movie.
Ella confiesa la verdad solo cuando la presionan.
B2She only reveals the truth when they pressure her.
💡 Grammar Points
The Stem Change (e > ie)
In the present tense, the 'e' in the middle of 'confesar' changes to 'ie' (confIESo, confIESas) except for the 'we' (nosotros) and 'you all' (vosotros) forms, which remain 'confesamos' and 'confesáis'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Stem Change
Mistake: "Yo confesó (Incorrect present tense)"
Correction: Yo confieso. Remember the 'e' changes to 'ie' in the 'I', 'you (singular)', and 'they' forms.
⭐ Usage Tips
Confesar vs. Admitir
'Confesar' often carries a stronger connotation of admitting something negative (a fault or secret), while 'admitir' can be used for general acknowledgment.
The word 'confesar' is also used when referring to the religious act of going to confession to admit one's sins.
confesar(verb)
to go to confession
?to confess one's sins (religious)
to confess oneself
?archaic/literal translation of the reflexive form
📝 In Action
Antes de la Pascua, muchas personas se confiesan.
B1Before Easter, many people go to confession.
Mi abuela se confiesa todos los meses.
B2My grandmother confesses (goes to confession) every month.
💡 Grammar Points
The Reflexive Verb
When you use 'confesar' with the pronoun 'se' (confesarse), it means the person is performing the action on themselves—in this case, participating in the religious ritual of confession.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the wrong form in religious context
Mistake: "Fui a confesar (I went to confess)"
Correction: Fui a confesarme (I went to confession). You must use the reflexive form ('me', 'te', 'se', etc.) when referring to the religious rite.
⭐ Usage Tips
Imperative Pronoun Placement
In affirmative commands (telling someone to do it), the reflexive pronoun attaches to the end: ¡Confiesa + te = Confiésate!
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: confesar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the E>IE stem change for 'confesar'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'confesar' a regular verb?
No, 'confesar' is a stem-changing verb. In the present tense, the 'e' changes to 'ie' in most forms (like 'confieso' and 'confiesas'), but the 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' forms are regular.
How do I use 'confesar' when talking about revealing a secret?
You use the standard form: 'Él confesó su secreto.' (He confessed his secret.) If you want to say 'I must confess,' you can use the phrase 'Debo confesar que...' followed by what you are admitting.