dudoso
“dudoso” means “doubtful” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
doubtful
Also: undecided, uncertain
📝 In Action
El éxito del proyecto es dudoso.
B1The success of the project is doubtful.
Juan está dudoso sobre qué coche comprar.
B1Juan is undecided about which car to buy.
Es un resultado dudoso y necesitamos revisarlo.
B2It is an uncertain result and we need to check it.
suspicious
Also: shady, questionable
📝 In Action
Ese negocio tiene una reputación dudosa.
B2That business has a questionable reputation.
Compró carne de origen dudoso en el mercado.
B2He bought meat of suspicious origin at the market.
No confío en él, tiene un pasado dudoso.
C1I don't trust him; he has a shady past.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "dudoso" in Spanish:
doubtful→questionable→shady→suspicious→uncertain→undecided→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: dudoso
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence means 'I am feeling undecided'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'dubiosus,' which comes from 'dubium' (doubt). This root is connected to the word for 'two' (duo), suggesting the idea of being 'of two minds' or having two possible paths.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can 'dudoso' be used for people?
Yes! If you say 'Él está dudoso,' it means he is hesitating or undecided. If you say 'Es un tipo dudoso,' it means he is a shady or suspicious character.
Is 'dudoso' the same as 'sospechoso'?
They are close, but 'sospechoso' usually means someone who might have committed a crime, while 'dudoso' usually refers to the quality of something being unreliable or questionable.
How do I say 'without a doubt'?
While 'dudoso' is the adjective, the phrase for 'without a doubt' is 'sin duda'.