How to Say "uncertainty" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “uncertainty” is “duda” — use 'duda' when you have a specific question or a feeling of being unsure about a particular fact, detail, or how something works.
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.
inseguridad
een-seh-goo-ree-dahdinseɣuɾiˈðað
Examples
Tengo mucha inseguridad cuando hablo español en público.
I feel a lot of insecurity when I speak Spanish in public.
La inseguridad emocional es común durante la adolescencia.
Emotional insecurity is common during adolescence.
Para superar tu inseguridad, debes confiar más en tus habilidades.
To overcome your self-doubt, you must trust your skills more.
Always Feminine
Naming words (nouns) that end in '-dad' are almost always feminine. You should always use 'la' or 'una' with this word.
No plural usually needed
When talking about feelings of self-doubt, we usually use the singular 'inseguridad' even if we have many different worries.
Gender Error
Mistake: “El inseguridad es mala.”
Correction: La inseguridad es mala. Because it ends in -dad, it must be feminine.
suspenso
soo-SPEN-sosusˈpenso
Examples
La película tiene mucho suspenso.
The movie has a lot of suspense.
No me mantengas más en suspenso, dime la verdad.
Don't keep me in suspense any longer, tell me the truth.
El director es un maestro del suspenso.
The director is a master of suspense.
Using 'en suspenso'
When you want to say something is 'on hold' or 'pending', use the phrase 'en suspenso'.
Suspenso vs. Suspense
Mistake: “Using 'el suspense' in all Spanish-speaking countries.”
Correction: While 'suspense' is used in Spain, 'suspenso' is the preferred standard term across Latin America.
Duda vs. Incertidumbre
Related Translations
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