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How to Say "to entrust" in Spanish

English → Spanish

confiar

/kon-fyahr//koɱˈfjaɾ/

VerbB1General
Use 'confiar' when you are entrusting someone with something valuable or personal, like a secret, your feelings, or even a responsibility that implies a personal bond.
A storybook illustration depicting one person carefully handing a small, ornate, locked wooden chest to another person who is receiving it with great care, symbolizing entrusting a valuable item.

Examples

Le confié mi secreto a mi mejor amigo.

I entrusted my secret to my best friend.

El director me confió la dirección del proyecto.

The director entrusted me with the management of the project.

Voy a confiarte las llaves de mi casa.

I'm going to entrust you with my house keys.

Different Structure: 'confiar algo a alguien'

When you entrust something, the structure changes. You use a to show who is receiving the secret or task. The pattern is: confiar [the thing] a [the person].

Mixing up 'en' and 'a'

Mistake: “Le confié mi secreto en mi amigo.”

Correction: Le confié mi secreto a mi amigo. Use 'a' when giving something (like a secret) to someone, and 'en' when simply expressing trust in them.

cometer

koh-meh-TER/ko.meˈteɾ/

VerbC1Formal
Use 'cometer' when you are formally delegating a specific task, duty, or responsibility to someone, often in a professional or official context.
A colorful illustration of one adult character handing a large, important-looking golden key to another adult character, symbolizing the transfer of responsibility.

Examples

El director cometió la nueva tarea al equipo más experimentado.

The director entrusted the new task to the most experienced team.

Use Modern Alternatives

While 'cometer' is historically correct for 'to entrust,' modern Spanish speakers almost always use 'encargar' or 'confiar' instead. Stick to those verbs for daily conversation.

Confusing 'cometer' and 'confiar'

Learners often confuse 'cometer' and 'confiar' by using 'cometer' for personal matters. Remember that 'cometer' is for formal duties, while 'confiar' is for personal secrets or valuable items where trust is key.

Related Translations

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