confesar en 30 secondes
- Confesar means to admit a fault, secret, or truth.
- It's used for admitting mistakes, crimes, or feelings.
- Common in legal, religious, and personal contexts.
- Similar to admitir, but often implies more personal or guilty admissions.
- Definition
- To confess, to admit a fault or secret.
- Usage
- The verb 'confesar' is used when someone admits to doing something wrong, revealing a secret, or acknowledging a truth, often something they have been hiding or were reluctant to say. It implies a degree of honesty and vulnerability. In legal contexts, it means to admit guilt. In personal relationships, it can be about admitting a mistake, a feeling, or a hidden truth. The act of confessing often brings a sense of relief or closure.
He had to confesar his mistake to his boss.
She finally decided to confesar her love for him.
The detective tried to make the suspect confesar the crime.
- Etymology
- The word 'confesar' comes from the Latin word 'confiteri', which means 'to acknowledge' or 'to admit'. It is formed from 'con-' (together, with) and 'fiteri' (to avow, to declare, to confess), which is related to 'fateri' (to confess, to admit). This root highlights the idea of openly declaring or admitting something, often in a public or formal setting.
- Subject + confesar + object/clause
- The most common structure involves a subject performing the action of confessing. This can be followed by a direct object (what is confessed) or a clause explaining the confession. For instance, 'Yo confieso mi error' (I confess my error) or 'Ella confiesa que llegó tarde' (She confesses that she arrived late).
El niño tuvo que confesar que rompió el jarrón.
- Confesar + a + alguien
- Often, we confess something *to* someone. In Spanish, this is expressed using the preposition 'a'. For example, 'Le confesé mi secreto a mi mejor amigo' (I confessed my secret to my best friend). The indirect object pronoun 'le' refers to 'a mi mejor amigo'.
Ella le va a confesar la verdad a sus padres.
- Confesar + de + algo
- While less common than the direct object, 'confesar de algo' can sometimes be used to mean confessing *about* something, though it's more typical to use a direct object or a clause. For instance, 'Confesó de sus acciones' would be understood but 'Confesó sus acciones' is more standard.
El testigo se negó a confesar lo que vio.
- Reflexive use (confesarse)
- The reflexive form, 'confesarse', is often used in the context of religious confession (confessing one's sins to a priest) or a deep, personal admission to oneself or to a therapist. 'Se confesó con el sacerdote' (He confessed to the priest). It can also imply admitting something to oneself, such as 'Tuve que confesarme a mí mismo que estaba equivocado' (I had to confess to myself that I was wrong).
Después de la pelea, se confesó culpable.
- Legal and Police Procedural Dramas
- In Spanish-language crime shows, movies, and books, 'confesar' is frequently used when detectives are interrogating suspects, or when a character admits to committing a crime. You'll hear phrases like 'El sospechoso se negó a confesar' (The suspect refused to confess) or 'Finalmente, confesó todo' (Finally, he confessed everything).
The police wanted him to confesar the robbery.
- Religious Contexts
- In Catholic and other Christian traditions, 'confesar' is central to the sacrament of confession. Priests hear confessions, and individuals 'confess their sins'. You might hear 'Voy a confesarme' (I am going to confess) or 'El sacerdote escuchó su confesión' (The priest heard his confession).
El pecador se arrodilló para confesar sus faltas.
- Personal Relationships and Dramas
- In everyday conversations and fictional narratives, characters often confess secrets, feelings, or mistakes to each other. This could be a romantic confession ('Le confesaré mi amor') or an admission of a mistake ('Debo confesar que no fui sincero').
After years of silence, she decided to confesar the truth about her past.
- Therapy and Psychological Contexts
- In discussions about mental health or therapy, 'confesar' can refer to admitting deep-seated issues or traumas to a professional. 'Necesitaba confesar sus miedos para poder sanar' (She needed to confess her fears to be able to heal).
The patient began to confesar his deepest insecurities.
- Confusing with 'confiar' (to trust)
- A common mistake for learners is to confuse 'confesar' (to confess) with 'confiar' (to trust). While they sound similar and share the same root, their meanings are entirely different. 'Confiar' is about having faith or relying on someone or something, whereas 'confesar' is about admitting something. For example, 'Confieso mi amor' (I confess my love) is correct, but 'Confío mi amor' (I trust my love) does not make sense in the same way.
Incorrect: Yo confío mi secreto a mi amigo.
Correct: Yo confieso mi secreto a mi amigo.
- Incorrect Verb Conjugation
- As 'confesar' is a regular -ar verb, most conjugations follow the standard pattern. However, errors can occur, especially in more complex tenses or with the subjunctive mood. For example, using 'confesé' (preterite) when 'confieso' (present) is needed, or vice-versa, can change the meaning significantly. Ensure you are using the correct tense and person.
Incorrect: Ayer yo confieso.
Correct: Ayer yo confesé.
- Overuse or Misuse of Reflexive Form
- While 'confesarse' is correct for religious or deep personal admission, using it in everyday situations where a non-reflexive 'confesar' would suffice can sound awkward. For instance, saying 'Me confieso de que llegué tarde' instead of the more natural 'Confieso que llegué tarde'. The reflexive form often implies a confession to oneself or a higher power, rather than to another person directly.
Less natural: Me confieso mi error.
More natural: Confieso mi error.
- Admitir (to admit)
- 'Admitir' is a very close synonym and often interchangeable with 'confesar', especially when admitting a fact or a mistake. The nuance is that 'admitir' is more general. You can admit to being wrong, admit a fact, or admit that something is true. 'Confesar' often carries a slightly stronger implication of admitting something that was hidden, wrong, or a secret, sometimes with a sense of guilt or relief.
- Example:
Confesar: 'El ladrón confesó el crimen.' (The thief confessed the crime.) - Implies admitting guilt.
Admitir: 'Ella admitió que no entendía la pregunta.' (She admitted that she didn't understand the question.) - A more neutral admission of fact.
- Declarar (to declare, to state)
- 'Declarar' is used for making a formal statement or declaration, often in legal or official contexts. You 'declara' your income, 'declara' your assets, or a witness 'declara' in court. While a confession can be a type of declaration, 'declarar' itself doesn't imply admitting fault or a secret in the way 'confesar' does. It's about stating something clearly and officially.
- Example:
Confesar: 'Confesó haber robado el dinero.' (He confessed to having stolen the money.)
Declarar: 'El testigo declaró lo que vio.' (The witness declared what he saw.) - A statement of fact, not necessarily an admission of guilt.
- Revelar (to reveal)
- 'Revelar' means to make something known that was previously secret or hidden. It's similar to confessing a secret, but 'revelar' can be more neutral. You can reveal a surprise, reveal a secret plan, or reveal a truth. 'Confesar' implies a more personal admission, often of something that carries some weight or consequence for the confessor.
- Example:
Confesar: 'Él confesó que estaba enamorado de ella.' (He confessed that he was in love with her.) - An admission of personal feelings.
Revelar: 'Ella reveló el secreto de su abuela.' (She revealed her grandmother's secret.) - Making a secret known.
- Reconocer (to recognize, to acknowledge)
- 'Reconocer' means to acknowledge or admit something, often a fact or the existence of something. It's very similar to 'admitir' and can sometimes be used where 'confesar' might be used, especially in admitting a fault. However, 'reconocer' is broader and can also mean to identify or recognize someone or something. When used for admitting, it's about acknowledging the truth of a situation.
- Example:
Confesar: 'Ella confesó su error.' (She confessed her mistake.)
Reconocer: 'Él reconoció que la situación era difícil.' (He acknowledged that the situation was difficult.) - Acknowledging a fact.
How Formal Is It?
Le savais-tu ?
The root 'fateri' is also related to the English word 'confess' itself, highlighting a shared linguistic ancestry and meaning related to admitting something openly.
Guide de prononciation
- Pronouncing the first 'o' as a long 'oh' sound.
- Adding an extra syllable or misplacing the stress.
- Not clearly enunciating the final 'ar' sound.
Niveau de difficulté
The word 'confesar' is relatively straightforward in its meaning. For A2 learners, recognizing it in simple sentences and understanding its core meaning of admitting something is achievable. The verb conjugation is regular, which simplifies its use in basic tenses. The main challenge might be distinguishing it from similar-sounding words like 'confiar'.
Quoi apprendre ensuite
Prérequis
Apprends ensuite
Avancé
Grammaire à connaître
Conjugation of regular -ar verbs in the present tense.
Yo confies-o, tú confies-as, él/ella confies-a, nosotros confies-amos, ellos confies-an.
Using the subjunctive mood after 'confesar que' when expressing doubt or emotion.
Dudo que él confiese la verdad. (I doubt that he will confess the truth.)
The use of the infinitive after 'tener que' or 'ir a'.
Tengo que confesar. (I have to confess.) Voy a confesar. (I am going to confess.)
The use of direct and indirect object pronouns with verbs.
Le confesé mi secreto. (I confessed my secret to him/her.)
The formation of the preterite tense for regular -ar verbs.
Yo confes-é, tú confes-aste, él/ella confes-ó, nosotros confes-amos, ellos confes-aron.
Exemples par niveau
Yo confieso.
I confess.
Simple present tense, first person singular.
Él confiesa.
He confesses.
Simple present tense, third person singular.
Ella confiesa.
She confesses.
Simple present tense, third person singular.
Yo confieso mi error.
I confess my error.
Direct object 'mi error'.
Él confiesa la verdad.
He confesses the truth.
Direct object 'la verdad'.
Ella confiesa el secreto.
She confesses the secret.
Direct object 'el secreto'.
Nosotros confesamos.
We confess.
Simple present tense, first person plural.
Ellos confiesan.
They confess.
Simple present tense, third person plural.
Yo confieso que llegué tarde.
I confess that I arrived late.
Subordinate clause introduced by 'que'.
Él confiesa haber roto el vaso.
He confesses to having broken the glass.
Infinitive phrase with 'haber'.
Ella confiesa que le gusta.
She confesses that she likes him/it.
Subordinate clause with 'que'.
Tenemos que confesar la verdad.
We have to confess the truth.
Modal verb 'tener que' + infinitive.
¿Vas a confesar tu culpa?
Are you going to confess your guilt?
Future with 'ir a' + infinitive.
Él confesó su amor.
He confessed his love.
Preterite tense, third person singular.
Ella confesó la mentira.
She confessed the lie.
Preterite tense, third person singular.
Los niños confesaron haber comido las galletas.
The children confessed to having eaten the cookies.
Plural subject, preterite tense.
El acusado se negó a confesar.
The accused refused to confess.
Verb 'negarse a' + infinitive.
Confieso que a veces soy perezoso.
I confess that sometimes I am lazy.
Adverb 'a veces'.
Ella confesó sus miedos más profundos.
She confessed her deepest fears.
Adjective 'profundos'.
El detective intentó que confesara.
The detective tried to make him confess.
Causative construction 'intentar que' + subjunctive.
Si me confiesas la verdad, te perdonaré.
If you confess the truth to me, I will forgive you.
Conditional sentence, present subjunctive.
Se confesó con el sacerdote.
He confessed to the priest.
Reflexive verb 'confesarse'.
Él confesó haber sido el responsable.
He confessed to having been responsible.
Infinitive phrase with 'haber sido'.
Debo confesar que no esperaba esto.
I must confess that I did not expect this.
Modal verb 'deber' + infinitive.
Me vi obligado a confesar mis acciones.
I was forced to confess my actions.
Passive voice 'verse obligado a'.
El político confesó que hubo irregularidades.
The politician confessed that there were irregularities.
Past tense 'hubo'.
No puedo confesarme culpable sin pruebas.
I cannot confess myself guilty without proof.
Adverb 'sin'.
Ella confesó que su matrimonio estaba en crisis.
She confessed that her marriage was in crisis.
Past continuous tense.
Tras un largo interrogatorio, el sospechoso confesó.
After a long interrogation, the suspect confessed.
Prepositional phrase 'tras'.
Él confesó su admiración por el artista.
He confessed his admiration for the artist.
Noun 'admiración'.
Se confesó ante el tribunal.
He confessed before the court.
Preposition 'ante'.
Confesaré mi parte en el asunto.
I will confess my part in the matter.
Future tense.
El dilema era si confesar la verdad o proteger a sus seres queridos.
The dilemma was whether to confess the truth or protect his loved ones.
Subjunctive 'proteger'.
Con la presión mediática, se vio forzado a confesar sus errores.
With the media pressure, he felt forced to confess his errors.
Noun phrase 'presión mediática'.
Su confesión reveló una red de corrupción que nadie imaginaba.
His confession revealed a network of corruption that no one imagined.
Noun 'confesión', verb 'reveló'.
El historiador analizó las motivaciones detrás de su decisión de confesar.
The historian analyzed the motivations behind his decision to confess.
Noun 'motivaciones', noun 'decisión'.
A pesar de las consecuencias, decidió confesar la verdad completa.
Despite the consequences, he decided to confess the complete truth.
Prepositional phrase 'a pesar de'.
El artista plasmó en su obra la angustia de tener que confesar.
The artist captured in his work the anguish of having to confess.
Verb 'plasmar', noun 'angustia'.
Se arrepintió de no haber confesado antes.
He regretted not having confessed earlier.
Past perfect subjunctive 'haber confesado'.
La confesión, aunque tardía, trajo consigo una cierta paz.
The confession, although late, brought with it a certain peace.
Adverbial clause 'aunque tardía'.
La elocuencia con la que confesó sus culpas impresionó a los presentes.
The eloquence with which he confessed his faults impressed those present.
Relative clause 'con la que'.
El silencio prolongado era un preludio a la confesión que cambiaría todo.
The prolonged silence was a prelude to the confession that would change everything.
Noun 'preludio', future perfect.
Se debatió si la confesión, obtenida bajo coacción, sería admisible en juicio.
It was debated whether the confession, obtained under duress, would be admissible in court.
Passive voice 'se debatió', past participle 'obtenida'.
Su honestidad brutal al confesar sus vulnerabilidades humanizó su figura pública.
His brutal honesty in confessing his vulnerabilities humanized his public image.
Adjective 'brutal', noun 'vulnerabilidades'.
La confesión de sus errores fue un acto de valentía que erosionó la desconfianza.
The confession of his errors was an act of bravery that eroded mistrust.
Noun 'valentía', verb 'erosionó'.
Los anales históricos registran innumerables casos de confesiones que alteraron el curso de eventos.
Historical annals record countless cases of confessions that altered the course of events.
Noun 'anales', noun 'curso'.
Se planteó la cuestión de si la confesión era un acto de expiación o de manipulación.
The question arose as to whether the confession was an act of atonement or manipulation.
Noun 'cuestión', noun 'expiación'.
Aquel momento en que tuvo que confesar su amor fue el más difícil de su vida.
That moment when he had to confess his love was the most difficult of his life.
Adverbial clause 'cuando tuvo que'.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
— I have to confess...
Tengo que confesar que me comí la última galleta. (I have to confess I ate the last cookie.)
— I confess that...
Confieso que no entendí la película. (I confess that I didn't understand the movie.)
— He/She refused to confess.
A pesar de las pruebas, se negó a confesar. (Despite the evidence, he refused to confess.)
— He/She confessed to having...
Confesó haber llegado tarde. (He confessed to having arrived late.)
— To confess the truth.
Es hora de confesar la verdad. (It's time to confess the truth.)
— To confess a secret.
Le confesó un secreto muy importante. (He confessed a very important secret to her.)
— To confess love.
Finalmente, confesó su amor por ella. (Finally, he confessed his love for her.)
— To confess oneself (often religiously or deeply personally).
Se confesó con el sacerdote. (He confessed to the priest.)
— I was forced to confess.
Me vi obligado a confesar para evitar problemas mayores. (I was forced to confess to avoid bigger problems.)
Expressions idiomatiques
— To profess one's faith; to declare one's religious beliefs.
En tiempos de persecución, muchos tuvieron que confesar su fe públicamente.
Religious, Historical— To confess something in a low voice, hesitantly, or indistinctly.
Confesó entre dientes que había perdido las llaves.
Informal— To confess something insincerely; to say something without meaning it.
Sus disculpas sonaron falsas, parecía confesar de labios para afuera.
Informal— A humorous way of saying something obvious or undeniable.
Que el equipo no jugó bien es como confesar que el agua está fría.
Humorous, Informal— To confess one's sin (often used in a religious context, but can be used metaphorically for admitting a serious wrongdoing).
El líder admitió que debía confesar el pecado de su ambición desmedida.
Religious, Metaphorical— To admit that a situation was unpleasant or difficult.
Tengo que confesar el mal trago que fue esa reunión.
Informal— To admit to feeling bitter or resentful.
Con el tiempo, confesó la amargura que sentía por la injusticia.
Emotional— To admit one's weakness.
Mostró fortaleza al confesar su debilidad.
Personal— To confess only part of the truth, omitting crucial details.
Ella confesó la verdad a medias, dejando fuera lo más importante.
Deceptive— To admit defeat.
Finalmente, el equipo tuvo que confesar la derrota.
GeneralStructures de phrases
Subject + confesar.
Yo confieso.
Famille de mots
Noms
Verbes
Adjectifs
Apparenté
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Imagine a detective asking a suspect, 'Did you confess?' The Spanish word 'confesar' sounds very much like the English 'confess'. Picture the detective saying, 'Did you CON-FESS-AR?' with a dramatic flair.
Association visuelle
Visualize a person kneeling in front of a priest, whispering their sins. The priest is wearing a robe, and the scene is dimly lit. The act of whispering secrets is like confessing. Or, imagine a courtroom where a defendant is admitting guilt.
Word Web
Défi
Try to use 'confesar' in three different sentences today: one about admitting a small mistake, one about confessing a secret, and one about admitting a feeling. Write them down and say them out loud.
Origine du mot
Latin 'confiteri'
Sens originel : 'to acknowledge', 'to admit', 'to avow'. It is composed of 'con-' (together, with) and 'fiteri' (to avow, to declare, to confess), which is related to 'fateri' (to confess, to admit).
Indo-European > Italic > Latin > Romance languages > SpanishContexte culturel
When using 'confesar', be mindful of the context. Confessing a crime or a serious personal failing is a heavy topic. Confessing love or a minor mistake is lighter. The tone and surrounding words will indicate the gravity.
In English-speaking cultures, 'to confess' is also used for admitting wrongdoing, secrets, or feelings. The religious context of confession is also present, particularly in Christianity. The nuances are quite similar to Spanish.
Pratique dans la vie réelle
Contextes réels
Legal proceedings
- Confesar un crimen
- Confesar la verdad
- Negarse a confesar
- Confesar culpa
Personal relationships
- Confesar un secreto
- Confesar amor
- Confesar un error
- Confesar sentimientos
Religious practices
- Confesarse con el sacerdote
- Confesar los pecados
- Confesar la fe
Therapy and self-reflection
- Confesar miedos
- Confesar debilidades
- Confesarse a uno mismo
Everyday admissions
- Tengo que confesar...
- Confieso que...
- Confesar que llegué tarde
Amorces de conversation
"Have you ever had to confess something difficult?"
"What's the difference between confessing and admitting?"
"In what situations is it important to confess the truth?"
"Can you think of a movie character who made a famous confession?"
"How do you feel after you confess something?"
Sujets d'écriture
Write about a time you confessed a mistake and the outcome.
Imagine you need to confess a secret to someone. What would it be and how would you do it?
Reflect on the importance of honesty and confession in building trust.
Describe a situation where someone confessed something that had a big impact.
If you could confess anything to your past self, what would it be?
Summary
Confesar is to admit something, particularly a mistake, secret, or guilt. It's a crucial verb for expressing honesty and vulnerability in Spanish, used in everything from legal confessions to personal admissions of love.
- Confesar means to admit a fault, secret, or truth.
- It's used for admitting mistakes, crimes, or feelings.
- Common in legal, religious, and personal contexts.
- Similar to admitir, but often implies more personal or guilty admissions.
Contenu associé
Plus de mots sur communication
acento
A2Il a un accent français très charmant quand il parle espagnol.
aceptar
A1Accepter. Il a décidé d'accepter l'offre d'emploi.
acerca de
A2À propos de; concernant. Utilisé pour introduire le sujet d'une discussion.
acertado
A2Cela signifie correct, approprié ou bien choisi.
aclaración
A2Une aclaración est une clarification, l'action de rendre quelque chose plus clair.
aclarar
B1Rendre plus clair ou plus facile à comprendre; rincer.
aconsejar
A2Conseiller quelqu'un sur ses choix de vie.
acuerdo
A2Un accord ou une entente mutuelle.
de acuerdo
A1D'accord. Utilisé pour exprimer son consentement ou son approbation. 'Je suis d'accord avec toi.'
Adiós
A1Goodbye
