How to Say "doubt" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “doubt” is “duda” — use 'duda' when you have a general feeling of uncertainty or a specific question about something, like needing clarification.
duda
doo-daˈdu.ða
Examples
Tengo una duda sobre cómo funciona esto.
I have a question about how this works.
No me cabe la menor duda de que tienes razón.
I don't have the slightest doubt that you're right.
Sin duda, este es el mejor restaurante de la ciudad.
Without a doubt, this is the best restaurant in the city.
Duda vs. Pregunta
'Duda' is the feeling of uncertainty you have inside your head. 'Pregunta' is the actual question you ask out loud to get information. If you raise your hand in class, you have a 'duda,' but you ask a 'pregunta'.
Asking a 'duda'
Mistake: “Voy a hacerte una duda.”
Correction: Voy a hacerte una pregunta. 'Preguntas' are what you 'make' or 'ask' ('hacer'). You 'have' ('tener') a 'duda'.
incertidumbre
in-ser-tee-DOOM-brehinseɾtiˈðumbɾe
Examples
Hay mucha incertidumbre sobre el resultado del partido.
There is a lot of uncertainty about the game's result.
La incertidumbre económica preocupa a las familias.
Economic uncertainty worries families.
Afrontamos el futuro con optimismo a pesar de la incertidumbre.
We face the future with optimism despite the uncertainty.
Always Feminine
This word is feminine, so you should always use 'la' or 'una' with it. Remember that most words ending in '-umbre' follow this pattern.
A Word for Feelings and Situations
You can use this word both for a personal feeling of not knowing and for a general situation (like the economy or weather) that is unpredictable.
Confusing with 'Mistake'
Mistake: “Cometí una incertidumbre.”
Correction: Cometí un error. 'Incertidumbre' refers to the state of not knowing, not a mistake you made.
sospecha
soh-SPEH-chahsosˈpetʃa
Examples
La policía actuó bajo la sospecha de fraude.
The police acted under the suspicion of fraud.
No tengo ninguna sospecha sobre su honestidad.
I don't have any suspicion about his honesty.
Su comportamiento levantó muchas sospechas.
His behavior raised a lot of suspicions.
Using 'Tener'
To express that you feel suspicious, Spanish uses the verb 'tener' (to have): 'Tengo una sospecha' (I have a suspicion).
Using 'Ser' or 'Estar'
Mistake: “Soy sospecha / Estoy sospecha”
Correction: Use 'Tener una sospecha' (I have a suspicion) or 'Tener sospechas' (I have suspicions).
interrogante
een-teh-rro-GAHN-tehinteroˈɡante
Examples
El motivo del crimen sigue siendo un gran interrogante para la policía.
The motive for the crime remains a big question for the police.
En español, debes usar un interrogante al principio y otro al final.
In Spanish, you must use one question mark at the beginning and another at the end.
Hay muchos interrogantes sobre el nuevo plan económico del gobierno.
There are many questions regarding the government's new economic plan.
Masculine vs. Feminine
When talking about a doubt or a mystery, this word is usually masculine ('el interrogante'). While some regions use it as feminine, sticking to masculine is the safest and most common choice.
Double Punctuation
Unlike English, which only uses '?' at the end, Spanish uses two symbols: the upside-down '¿' (interrogante de apertura) to start and '?' (interrogante de cierre) to finish.
Interrogante vs. Pregunta
Mistake: “Using 'interrogante' for a simple question like 'What time is it?'.”
Correction: Use 'pregunta' for everyday inquiries. Use 'interrogante' for bigger mysteries, doubts, or the literal symbol.
cuestión
Examples
No quiso responder a mi cuestión sobre el futuro de la empresa.
He didn't want to answer my question about the future of the company.
espina
ess-PEE-nahesˈpina
Examples
Ese hombre me da mala espina.
That man gives me a bad feeling / I don't trust him.
Tengo la espina de que algo va a salir mal.
I have a nagging feeling that something is going to go wrong.
La espina dorsal protege la médula espinal.
The spine protects the spinal cord.
Figurative Use
When used figuratively to mean 'feeling,' it almost always appears with 'mala' (bad).
Confusing 'Duda' with 'Sospecha'
Related Translations
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