A simple, plain brown paper envelope sealed tightly with a large, bright red wax seal. The seal is stamped with the clear image of a small, closed padlock.

confidencial

kon-fee-den-see-AL

adjectivem/fB1

confidential?general use

Also:secret?information or data,private?personal matters

📝 In Action

Por favor, mantén este documento confidencial.

Please, keep this document confidential.

La reunión será estrictamente confidencial.

The meeting will be strictly confidential.

Tenemos que hablar de este tema de manera confidencial.

We have to talk about this subject confidentially (in a confidential manner).

Word Connections

Synonyms

secreto (secret)
privado (private)

Antonyms

público (public)
abierto (open)

Common Collocations

información confidencial – confidential information
asunto confidencial – confidential matter

💡 Grammar Points

Invariable Form

This adjective is 'invariable,' meaning it always stays the same regardless of whether the thing it describes is masculine or feminine: 'el informe confidencial' (masculine) and 'la nota confidencial' (feminine).

Making it Plural

To describe more than one thing, simply add '-es': 'documentos confidenciales' (confidential documents).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mixing up gender

Mistake: "La información es confidenciala."

Correction: La información es confidencial. (Since the word ends in '-al', it doesn't need to change its ending for feminine nouns.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Using it as an adverb

To express 'confidentially' (how an action is done), you add '-mente': 'Hablamos confidencialmente' (We spoke confidentially).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: confidencial

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses the adjective 'confidencial'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

confidencia(confidence/secret) - noun

confidencialmente(confidentially) - adverb

confiar(to trust) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'confidencial' more formal than 'secreto'?

Yes, generally. While both mean 'secret,' 'confidencial' is usually reserved for professional, legal, or governmental contexts, emphasizing that the information is protected by a duty of trust. 'Secreto' is broader and can apply to anything from a personal secret to a government secret.

Can I use 'confidencial' to describe a person?

No. When describing a person who is trustworthy or keeps secrets, you should use 'confidente' (noun, meaning confidant) or 'discreto' (adjective, meaning discreet).