Inklingo

How to Say "to mistrust" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to mistrust” is “desconfiar” — use 'desconfiar' when you feel a general lack of trust or suspicion towards a person, situation, or thing, often without specific evidence.

English → Spanish

desconfiar

des-kon-FYARdeskonˈfjaɾ

verbB1general
Use 'desconfiar' when you feel a general lack of trust or suspicion towards a person, situation, or thing, often without specific evidence.
A person standing with their arms crossed, looking suspiciously at a gift box held by an invisible hand.

Examples

No debes desconfiar de tus amigos.

You shouldn't distrust your friends.

Ella desconfía de las promesas del político.

She is suspicious of the politician's promises.

Empecé a desconfiar cuando noté que faltaba dinero.

I started to get suspicious when I noticed money was missing.

The 'De' Connection

Unlike in English where you just 'distrust someone,' in Spanish you must use the word 'de' after desconfiar to connect it to the person or thing you don't trust.

The Stress on the 'i'

In many forms of this verb (like the present tense), the 'i' in the root becomes stronger and gets an accent mark, such as 'desconfío'.

Missing the 'de'

Mistake: “Desconfío el sistema.”

Correction: Desconfío del sistema. (Remember to always use 'de' before the object of your distrust).

sospechar

sos-peh-CHARsospeˈtʃaɾ

verbB1general
Use 'sospechar' when you doubt someone's honesty or believe they might be involved in something negative or illicit.
A person looking suspiciously over their shoulder at someone else holding a hidden object.

Examples

La policía sospecha de su vecino.

The police suspect his neighbor.

Sospecho que nos están ocultando algo.

I suspect they are hiding something from us.

No tengo pruebas, pero lo sospechaba desde hace tiempo.

I don't have proof, but I've suspected it for a long time.

Using 'de' with people

When you suspect a specific person, you usually add the word 'de' before the person's name or pronoun. For example: 'Sospecho de ti' (I suspect you).

Forgetting the 'de'

Mistake: “Sospecho el vecino.”

Correction: Sospecho del vecino. Use 'de' when the object of your suspicion is a person.

Desconfiar vs. Sospechar

Learners often confuse 'desconfiar' and 'sospechar' because both imply doubt. Remember that 'desconfiar' is a broader feeling of mistrust, while 'sospechar' is more specific, often pointing to suspected wrongdoing or dishonesty.

Related Translations

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