Inklingo

How to Say "security" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “security” is “seguridad” — use this word for protection against threats, crime, danger, or for the department/people providing that protection.

English → Spanish

seguridad

se-goo-ree-DAHDseɣuɾiˈðað

NounA2General
Use this word for protection against threats, crime, danger, or for the department/people providing that protection.
A small, yellow baby chick sleeping peacefully inside a large, transparent protective bubble, symbolizing safety.

Examples

Por favor, pónganse el cinturón de seguridad.

Please, put on your seatbelt.

La seguridad de los niños es nuestra principal preocupación.

The safety of the children is our main concern.

Instalaron nuevas cámaras de seguridad en la calle.

They installed new security cameras on the street.

Si tienes un problema, llama a seguridad.

If you have a problem, call security.

Always Feminine

Words that end in '-dad' in Spanish are almost always feminine. That's why we say 'la seguridad' (the safety) and 'una buena seguridad' (good safety).

protección

NounA1General
Use this word when referring to the general state of being safe from harm or damage.

Examples

El casco ofrece protección contra caídas.

The helmet offers protection against falls.

estabilidad

es-tah-bee-lee-DAHDestaβiliˈðad

NounB1General
Use this word to talk about a steady or secure state, often in a political or economic context, or job security.
A stack of smooth, flat river stones balanced perfectly on top of each other against a soft blue background.

Examples

El país finalmente ha alcanzado la estabilidad política.

The country has finally reached political stability.

Busco un trabajo que me dé un poco más de estabilidad.

I'm looking for a job that gives me a bit more stability.

Esta mesa es vieja y ha perdido su estabilidad.

This table is old and has lost its steadiness.

The '-dad' Rule

Most Spanish words ending in '-dad' are feminine. This means you should always use 'la' or 'una' with stability: 'la estabilidad'.

The Starting 'E'

In Spanish, words don't usually start with an 'S' followed by another consonant. We add an 'E' at the beginning to make it easier to say. Think of it like 'e-stability'.

Dropping the 'E'

Mistake: “Busco estabilidad.”

Correction: Busco la estabilidad (or just remember the 'e' is not silent!). English speakers often try to say 'stabilidad', but in Spanish, the 'e' is always pronounced clearly.

garantía

NounB2Formal/Financial
Use this word when referring to a pledge or assurance, especially a financial one like a deposit or collateral.

Examples

Necesitamos una garantía hipotecaria para aprobar el préstamo.

We need mortgage collateral to approve the loan.

obligación

NounB2Financial/Legal
Use this word in a financial market context, specifically referring to bonds or debt securities.

Examples

El gobierno emitió nuevas obligaciones para financiar el proyecto.

The government issued new bonds to finance the project.

Seguridad vs. Protección

The most common confusion is between 'seguridad' and 'protección'. While both relate to safety, 'seguridad' often implies active measures against specific threats (like police or a seatbelt), whereas 'protección' is more about the general state of being shielded from harm.

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