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confesión

kon-fes-YOHN/kon.feˈsjon/

“confesión” means “confession” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

confession, admission

Also: disclosure
NounfB1
A small child with a slightly worried expression is holding a broken red crayon, standing next to an adult who looks understanding, illustrating the act of admitting a fault.

📝 In Action

La policía obtuvo una confesión del sospechoso.

B1

The police obtained a confession from the suspect.

Su confesión de amor fue una sorpresa para todos.

B1

His declaration of love was a surprise to everyone.

El libro es una confesión íntima de sus miedos.

B2

The book is an intimate admission of her fears.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • declaración (statement)
  • admisión (admission)

Antonyms

  • negación (denial)

Common Collocations

  • hacer una confesión – to make a confession
  • confesión de culpabilidad – confession of guilt

Confession

Also: sacrament of penance
NounfB2formal
A simple wooden confessional booth interior. A kneeling figure is visible on one side, speaking through a small screen to a partially visible figure representing a priest on the other side.

📝 In Action

El sacerdote se sienta en el confesionario para escuchar la confesión.

B2

The priest sits in the confessional box to hear Confession.

Muchos creyentes van a la confesión antes de las fiestas importantes.

B2

Many believers go to Confession before important holidays.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • penitencia (penance)

Common Collocations

  • ir a confesión – to go to confession
  • sacramento de la confesión – sacrament of confession

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: confesión

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'confesión' in its religious context?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
confesar(to confess) — Verb
confesionario(confessional (box)) — Noun
confesional(confessional (adj.)) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
ocasiónpasión
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes directly from the Latin *confessio*, meaning 'an acknowledgment' or 'a declaration.' It is built on the Latin verb *confiteri*, which means 'to acknowledge fully' or 'to disclose.'

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: confessionFrench: confessionItalian: confessione

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Frequently Asked Questions

¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'confesión' y 'declaración'?

Both mean 'statement,' but 'confesión' usually implies admitting something negative or secret (a fault, a love, a crime). 'Declaración' is a more neutral term for any formal announcement or statement.

How do I say 'I confess'?

You use the related verb 'confesar.' For 'I confess,' you would say 'Yo confieso' (present tense) or 'Yo confesé' (past tense).