Inklingo

How to Say "undecided" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “undecided” is “indeciso” — use 'indeciso' when referring to a person who is struggling to make a personal choice or decision..

English → Spanish

indeciso

/een-deh-SEE-soh//indeˈsiso/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'indeciso' when referring to a person who is struggling to make a personal choice or decision.
A person standing at a fork in a forest path, looking at two different directions with a thoughtful expression.

Examples

Soy muy indeciso cuando tengo que elegir qué comer.

I am very indecisive when I have to choose what to eat.

Ella está indecisa sobre qué carrera estudiar.

She is undecided about which career to study.

El resultado del partido sigue indeciso.

The result of the game is still unsettled.

Matching Gender

This word changes its ending based on who you are talking about. Use 'indeciso' for men and 'indecisa' for women.

Ser vs. Estar

Use 'ser' if someone is naturally an indecisive person (personality). Use 'estar' if they are just having trouble picking something right now (temporary state).

The 'Indecisivo' Trap

Mistake: “Él es muy indecisivo.”

Correction: Él es muy indeciso. In Spanish, 'indeciso' is the standard word for people; 'indecisivo' is much less common and often sounds like an English mistake.

dudoso

/doo-DOH-soh//duˈðoso/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'dudoso' when describing a situation, outcome, or possibility as uncertain or questionable.
A hiker standing at a fork in a forest path, looking unsure and looking between two different trails.

Examples

El éxito del proyecto es dudoso.

The success of the project is doubtful.

Juan está dudoso sobre qué coche comprar.

Juan is undecided about which car to buy.

Es un resultado dudoso y necesitamos revisarlo.

It is an uncertain result and we need to check it.

Matching the word to the noun

Since this is a describing word, it must match the thing it describes. Use 'dudoso' for masculine items and 'dudosa' for feminine items.

Choosing between 'Ser' and 'Estar'

Use 'ser' when the thing itself is naturally uncertain (un futuro dudoso). Use 'estar' when a person is currently feeling unsure (estoy dudoso).

Confusing 'undecided' with 'doubtful'

Mistake: “Using 'estoy dudoso' to mean 'I am a shady person.'”

Correction: Say 'estoy dudoso' for 'I'm undecided' and 'soy dudoso' if you mean you are a questionable character (though this is rare to say about oneself!).

Person vs. Situation

Learners often confuse 'indeciso' and 'dudoso' by using 'indeciso' for uncertain situations. Remember, 'indeciso' describes a person's inability to decide, while 'dudoso' describes the uncertainty of something else.

Related Translations

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