convencer
“convencer” means “to convince” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to convince, to persuade
Also: to talk into
📝 In Action
Intenté convencerlo de que viniera a la fiesta.
A2I tried to convince him to come to the party.
Ella me convenció de que era una buena idea invertir.
B1She persuaded me that investing was a good idea.
El vendedor nos convenció fácilmente con su demostración.
A2The salesperson convinced us easily with his demonstration.
to be convinced, to be sure
Also: to satisfy oneself
📝 In Action
Me convencí de que no era mi culpa.
B1I convinced myself (I became sure) that it wasn't my fault.
Cuando vi las pruebas, me convencí de la verdad.
B1When I saw the evidence, I became convinced of the truth.
Ella nunca se convencerá de que está equivocada.
B2She will never be convinced that she is wrong.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: convencer
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the spelling rule for 'convencer' in the present tense?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word *convincere*, which means 'to overcome' or 'to prove conclusively.' The Spanish word kept the core idea of winning an argument or proving a point.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'convencer' and 'persuadir'?
They are very close synonyms and often interchangeable. 'Convencer' often emphasizes winning an argument through logic and evidence (convincing the mind), while 'persuadir' sometimes implies appealing to feelings or desires (persuading the will). However, in everyday speech, you can usually use either one.
Does 'convencer' require the subjunctive mood?
No. Unlike verbs that express desires or commands (like 'querer' or 'pedir'), 'convencer' states a fact (that someone *is* convinced or *was* convinced). Therefore, the second verb usually stays in the normal indicative mood: 'Me convenció de que **tiene** razón' (He convinced me that he **is** right).