seguro
/seh-GOO-roh/
sure
This person is seguro (sure) about their decision. The word describes a feeling of certainty.
📝 In Action
¿Estás segura de la respuesta?
A1Are you sure about the answer?
Estoy seguro de que lo vi aquí.
A2I'm sure that I saw it here.
Es un hombre muy seguro de sí mismo.
B1He is a very self-confident man.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Use 'Estar' for Feeling Sure
To say you feel sure about something, always use the verb 'estar'. For example, 'Estoy seguro' (I am sure). Using 'ser' changes the meaning completely.
Matches the Person or Thing
Like many descriptions in Spanish, 'seguro' must change to match who or what you're talking about: 'seguro' (for masculine singular), 'segura' (feminine singular), 'seguros' (masculine plural), and 'seguras' (feminine plural).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Ser' instead of 'Estar'
Mistake: "Soy seguro que la tienda está cerrada."
Correction: Estoy seguro de que la tienda está cerrada. You use 'estar' to talk about a temporary state or feeling, like being sure of something.
With a helmet, the child is seguro (safe) while riding their bike. Here, 'seguro' means protected from danger.
seguro(Adjective)
safe
?free from danger
secure
?protected against threats
,reliable
?dependable, trustworthy
,stable
?not likely to fall or give way
📝 In Action
Este barrio es muy seguro por la noche.
A2This neighborhood is very safe at night.
Guarda tus documentos en un lugar seguro.
B1Keep your documents in a secure place.
Necesitamos una escalera más segura que esta.
B1We need a more stable ladder than this one.
💡 Grammar Points
Use 'Ser' for Inherent Safety
To describe something that has the quality of being safe (like a city or a car), use the verb 'ser'. For example, 'El coche es seguro' (The car is safe).
⭐ Usage Tips
Safe Feeling vs. Safe Quality
A simple way to remember: 'Estoy seguro' means 'I feel sure' (a feeling). 'Este lugar es seguro' means 'This place is safe' (a quality of the place).
This document is a seguro (insurance policy), which protects your car or home financially.
📝 In Action
Tengo que renovar el seguro del coche.
B1I have to renew the car insurance.
¿Este hospital acepta mi seguro médico?
B1Does this hospital accept my health insurance?
La compañía de seguros no cubrió los daños.
B2The insurance company did not cover the damages.
⭐ Usage Tips
Specify the Type
When talking about 'seguro' as insurance, it's very common to add what kind it is. For example, 'seguro de coche' for car insurance or 'seguro de vida' for life insurance.
You can put the seguro (latch) on the door to lock it. It's a physical device that makes something secure.
seguro(Noun)
safety lock
?a mechanism to prevent operation
latch
?on a door or gate
,bolt
?on a door
,safety pin
?e.g., on a grenade
📝 In Action
No olvides poner el seguro en la puerta antes de dormir.
B1Don't forget to put the lock on the door before sleeping.
El rifle tiene un seguro para evitar disparos accidentales.
C1The rifle has a safety lock to prevent accidental shots.
When you say seguro, it's like pointing and saying 'surely' or 'probably' that's the case.
seguro(Adverb)
surely
?expressing certainty
probably
?expressing likelihood
,certainly
?without a doubt
📝 In Action
Seguro que llueve mañana.
B1It'll surely rain tomorrow.
Si no estudias, seguro suspendes el examen.
B1If you don't study, you'll probably fail the exam.
De seguro nos vemos en la fiesta.
B2We'll surely see each other at the party.
💡 Grammar Points
Doesn't Change Form
When used this way to mean 'surely', 'seguro' never changes. It always stays 'seguro', no matter who you're talking about.
⭐ Usage Tips
Placement in a Sentence
You can often put 'seguro' or 'seguro que' at the very beginning of your sentence to show you feel certain about what you're going to say.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: seguro
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence means 'This car is a reliable/safe car'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between 'ser seguro' and 'estar seguro'?
Think of it this way: 'ser seguro' describes what something *is* (its permanent quality), like 'a safe car' (un coche seguro). 'Estar seguro' describes how someone *feels* or where something *is*, like 'I am sure' (estoy seguro) or 'the money is in a safe place' (el dinero está seguro).
How can I tell if 'seguro' means 'sure' or 'safe'?
Context is key! If it's about a person's feelings or knowledge ('Yo estoy seguro'), it means 'sure'. If it's about a place, object, or lack of danger ('un barrio seguro'), it means 'safe'.
Is 'seguro' the same as 'seguramente'?
They are very similar and often interchangeable when used to mean 'surely' or 'probably'. 'Seguro que viene' and 'Seguramente viene' both mean 'He's probably coming'. 'Seguro' is a bit more common in casual conversation.