When you desconfiar, it means you don't trust something or someone. For example, if your friend tells you a very unbelievable story, you might desconfiar a little. It's like having a feeling that something isn't quite right or true. This word helps you express when you feel suspicious.
When you're learning Spanish at a B1 level, you're moving beyond basic survival phrases and starting to express more complex thoughts and feelings. This includes being able to talk about trust and distrust. The verb desconfiar is perfect for this. It allows you to say directly that you don't trust something or someone.
Understanding desconfiar helps you articulate a common human experience. It's a useful word when discussing relationships, news, or even products. You'll often see it followed by the preposition 'de' when specifying what or whom you distrust. Mastering verbs like this is key to expressing yourself more fully in Spanish.
When you desconfiar, you lack trust. It implies a sense of suspicion or doubt towards a person, a statement, or a situation.
For example, you might desconfiar de la gente que habla mucho y no hace nada (distrust people who talk a lot and do nothing). It’s more than just not trusting; it’s actively feeling that something isn’t right or truthful.
When you desconfiar, you lack trust. It implies a feeling of suspicion or doubt towards a person, statement, or situation. It's more active than simply 'not trusting'; it suggests an internal questioning of motives or authenticity. You might desconfiar of someone's intentions if they're being overly friendly without reason, or you could desconfiar of a news report if it seems biased. It can also describe a general inclination to be wary.
Examples:
- Desconfío de sus promesas. (I distrust his promises.)
- Ella siempre desconfía de los extraños. (She always distrusts strangers.)
- No hay que desconfiar sin pruebas. (One shouldn't distrust without proof.)
§ Understanding 'Desconfiar'
When you're learning Spanish, some words just click, and others take a bit more work. 'Desconfiar' is one of those words that's incredibly useful once you get the hang of it. It means 'to distrust' or 'to feel suspicious of someone or something.' It's a verb you'll hear in all sorts of conversations, from serious discussions to everyday chats.
- Spanish Word
- desconfiar (verb)
- Definition
- To distrust. To feel suspicious of someone or something.
§ 'Desconfiar' in the Workplace
In a professional setting, 'desconfiar' can come up when discussing colleagues, projects, or even new policies. It's often used to express a lack of faith or certainty in a situation.
You might hear someone say:
No desconfío de su capacidad, pero los plazos son muy ajustados. (I don't distrust his ability, but the deadlines are very tight.)
Or perhaps:
Empiezo a desconfiar de la viabilidad de este proyecto. (I'm starting to distrust the viability of this project.)
§ At School or University
In an academic setting, 'desconfiar' can be used in discussions about information sources, research, or even the intentions of fellow students or professors.
A student might say:
Hay que desconfiar de las fuentes no verificadas. (One must distrust unverified sources.)
Or a professor commenting on a theory:
Muchos científicos desconfían de esa hipótesis. (Many scientists distrust that hypothesis.)
§ In the News and Media
When you're reading or watching the news in Spanish, 'desconfiar' is a common verb, especially in stories about politics, economics, or social issues. It's used to describe public sentiment or skepticism.
You might read a headline like:
Los ciudadanos desconfían de las promesas electorales. (Citizens distrust electoral promises.)
Or hear a reporter say:
El público empieza a desconfiar de los medios de comunicación tradicionales. (The public is starting to distrust traditional media.)
As you can see, 'desconfiar' is a versatile word. It's not just about doubting someone's honesty; it can also be about questioning the reliability or truthfulness of information, a plan, or an idea. By practicing these examples and listening for the word in different contexts, you'll soon be using 'desconfiar' like a native speaker. Keep practicing, and you'll master it in no time!
How Formal Is It?
"No debemos desconfiar de las instituciones públicas. (We should not distrust public institutions.)"
"Yo tiendo a desconfiar de las personas que prometen mucho. (I tend to distrust people who promise a lot.)"
"Le tengo mal rollo a ese tipo, no me da buena espina. (I have a bad vibe about that guy, he doesn't give me a good feeling.)"
"No te fíes de los extraños que te ofrecen dulces. (Don't trust strangers who offer you candy.)"
"Me mosqueé cuando vi su cara de inocente. (I got suspicious when I saw his innocent face.)"
Exemplos por nível
Es natural desconfiar de las promesas políticas vacías, dadas las experiencias pasadas.
It's natural to distrust empty political promises, given past experiences.
Here, 'desconfiar de' is used with the preposition 'de' to indicate what is being distrusted.
Aunque su historia sonaba convincente, una parte de mí no pudo evitar desconfiar.
Although his story sounded convincing, a part of me couldn't help but distrust.
The phrase 'no poder evitar desconfiar' means 'couldn't help but distrust'.
La clave para una buena relación es no desconfiar del otro sin una razón justificada.
The key to a good relationship is not to distrust the other without a justified reason.
The infinitive 'desconfiar' is used as the object of the verb 'es'.
Después de varias decepciones, empecé a desconfiar de cualquier oferta que pareciera demasiado buena para ser verdad.
After several disappointments, I started to distrust any offer that seemed too good to be true.
'Empecé a desconfiar' indicates the beginning of an action.
Si sientes que hay algo raro, no dudes en desconfiar de la situación.
If you feel something is off, don't hesitate to distrust the situation.
'No dudes en desconfiar' is a common way to express 'don't hesitate to distrust'.
Su constante necesidad de validación me hizo desconfiar de sus verdaderas intenciones.
His constant need for validation made me distrust his true intentions.
'Me hizo desconfiar' means 'it made me distrust'.
Es importante aprender a desconfiar de la información no verificada en internet.
It's important to learn to distrust unverified information on the internet.
'Aprender a desconfiar' means 'to learn to distrust'.
A veces, es mejor desconfiar de tu instinto que ignorarlo por completo.
Sometimes, it's better to distrust your instinct than to ignore it completely.
Here, 'desconfiar de' is used with 'tu instinto'.
Colocações comuns
Frases Comuns
Empiezo a desconfiar de lo que me dices.
I'm starting to distrust what you tell me.
Es mejor desconfiar un poco al principio.
It's better to distrust a little at first.
No hay que desconfiar de todo el mundo.
You shouldn't distrust everyone.
Ella siempre desconfía de la gente nueva.
She always distrusts new people.
Él tiene razones para desconfiar de ese acuerdo.
He has reasons to distrust that agreement.
Desconfiar es una forma de protegerse.
To distrust is a way to protect yourself.
Si desconfías, pregúntale directamente.
If you distrust, ask him directly.
No me gusta desconfiar de mis amigos.
I don't like to distrust my friends.
Es difícil no desconfiar después de lo que pasó.
It's hard not to distrust after what happened.
Aprendí a desconfiar de las apariencias.
I learned to distrust appearances.
Como usar
Desconfiar is always followed by the preposition de. Think of it like 'distrust of'.
Example 1: Yo desconfío de los políticos. (I distrust politicians.)
Example 2: Ella desconfía de las promesas fáciles. (She distrusts easy promises.)
Example 3: No desconfíes de mí. (Don't distrust me.)
A common mistake is to omit the preposition de or to use a different preposition.
Incorrect: Yo desconfío los políticos.
Correct: Yo desconfío de los políticos.
Another mistake is confusing desconfiar with 'to be confident' (confiar en). They are opposites.
Desconfiar: to distrust.
Confiar en: to trust/to be confident in.
Memorize
Mnemônico
Think of 'DES-confident'. If you are 'DES-confident' in someone, you 'desconfiar' (distrust) them.
Associação visual
Imagine a detective with a magnifying glass, looking suspiciously at a shadowy figure. This visual helps you remember 'desconfiar' (to distrust or be suspicious).
Word Web
Desafio
Try to form two original sentences using 'desconfiar'. For example, 'Yo desconfío de...' or 'Mi amigo desconfía de...' Share them with a friend or in a language exchange group for feedback.
Teste-se 54 perguntas
Write a short sentence about something you trust. (e.g., 'I trust my dog.')
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Yo confío en mi familia.
Write a short sentence about something you do NOT trust. (e.g., 'I do not trust big snakes.')
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Yo no confío en el perro grande.
Imagine you are at a new restaurant. Write a simple sentence about what you think of the food, using 'confío' or 'no confío'. (e.g., 'I trust the food here.')
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Yo confío en la comida aquí.
¿Quién es María?
Read this passage:
María es mi amiga. Ella siempre me ayuda. Yo confío en María.
¿Quién es María?
The passage says 'María es mi amiga.'
The passage says 'María es mi amiga.'
¿Por qué no confía la persona en el coche?
Read this passage:
El coche es viejo. Hace ruidos extraños. Yo no confío en el coche.
¿Por qué no confía la persona en el coche?
The passage says 'Hace ruidos extraños. Yo no confío en el coche.'
The passage says 'Hace ruidos extraños. Yo no confío en el coche.'
¿Qué animal tiene la persona?
Read this passage:
Mi gato es muy bueno. Siempre está conmigo. Yo confío en mi gato.
¿Qué animal tiene la persona?
The passage says 'Mi gato es muy bueno.'
The passage says 'Mi gato es muy bueno.'
Choose the best translation for 'desconfiar'.
The word 'desconfiar' means to distrust or to feel suspicious of someone or something.
Which sentence uses 'desconfiar' correctly?
This sentence means 'She distrusts people she doesn't know,' which is a correct use of 'desconfiar'. The other options use 'confiar' (to trust) or use 'desconfiar' in a context that doesn't fit its meaning.
What is the opposite of 'confiar' (to trust)?
'Confiar' means to trust, so its opposite is 'desconfiar', which means to distrust.
If you 'desconfiar' someone, you trust them.
'Desconfiar' means to distrust, so if you 'desconfiar' someone, you do not trust them.
The word 'desconfiar' can be used to say you are suspicious of something.
Yes, 'desconfiar' means to distrust or to feel suspicious of someone or something.
You can use 'desconfiar' when you have a lot of confidence in someone.
'Desconfiar' implies a lack of confidence or trust, so it's not used when you have a lot of confidence in someone.
The speaker is telling someone not to distrust someone else.
A question asking about the reason for distrust.
This sentence describes a person's general tendency to distrust.
Read this aloud:
No debes desconfiar de tu familia.
Focus: des-con-fiar
Você disse:
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Read this aloud:
Ellos desconfían de la información.
Focus: des-con-fí-an
Você disse:
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Read this aloud:
Desconfío de sus palabras.
Focus: des-con-fí-o
Você disse:
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No debemos ___ de las personas sin conocerlas bien.
The sentence suggests a negative action towards people without knowing them, so 'desconfiar' (to distrust) fits best.
Siempre es bueno ser un poco ___ de las ofertas demasiado buenas para ser verdad.
When an offer is 'too good to be true,' it's wise to be 'desconfiado' (distrustful/suspicious).
Ella empezó a ___ de su nuevo colega cuando notó algunas inconsistencias.
Noticing inconsistencies often leads to 'desconfiar' (distrusting) someone.
Es natural ___ de las promesas vacías.
When promises are 'empty,' it's natural to 'desconfiar' (distrust) them.
Los ciudadanos comenzaron a ___ de las promesas del político después de varias decepciones.
Repeated disappointments lead citizens to 'desconfiar' (distrust) the politician's promises.
Si no conoces bien a la persona, es mejor ___ y ser cauteloso.
When you don't know someone well, it's advisable to 'desconfiar' (distrust/be suspicious) and be cautious.
Write a short paragraph about a time you had to distrust someone or something. Explain why you felt that way and what happened as a result. Use 'desconfiar' at least once.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Una vez tuve que desconfiar de un vendedor que parecía demasiado ansioso por venderme un coche. Sus precios eran muy bajos y no quería darme los papeles completos. Al final, decidí no comprar el coche porque desconfiaba de su honestidad, y más tarde descubrí que el coche tenía problemas ocultos.
Imagine you are giving advice to a friend about a new acquaintance. Write three sentences using 'desconfiar' to express your reservations or warnings.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Yo desconfiaría de sus promesas si yo fuera tú. Parece muy amable, pero a veces hay que desconfiar de la gente que ofrece demasiado rápido. Es importante que no desconfíes de todos, pero sí de las intenciones de algunas personas.
Describe a situation where it's generally good to 'desconfiar' a little bit, and why. For example, when buying something expensive. Use 'desconfiar' in your answer.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Es bueno desconfiar un poco cuando compras algo muy caro, como un apartamento o un coche usado. Siempre es mejor investigar y hacer muchas preguntas para asegurarte de que todo está en orden. No es que debas desconfiar de todo el mundo, sino ser precavido.
¿Por qué María empezó a desconfiar más?
Read this passage:
María siempre ha sido una persona muy optimista. Sin embargo, después de que su amigo la engañara en un negocio, ella empezó a desconfiar más de las intenciones de los demás. Ahora, antes de tomar una decisión importante, prefiere investigar y pedir muchas opiniones.
¿Por qué María empezó a desconfiar más?
El pasaje indica claramente que 'después de que su amigo la engañara en un negocio, ella empezó a desconfiar más'.
El pasaje indica claramente que 'después de que su amigo la engañara en un negocio, ella empezó a desconfiar más'.
¿De qué no podía desconfiar el detective?
Read this passage:
El detective sabía que no podía desconfiar de su intuición en este caso. Todas las pistas lo llevaban a pensar que el sospechoso estaba mintiendo. Decidió seguir investigando, a pesar de que la evidencia superficial parecía indicar lo contrario.
¿De qué no podía desconfiar el detective?
El texto dice 'no podía desconfiar de su intuición', lo que significa que debía confiar en ella.
El texto dice 'no podía desconfiar de su intuición', lo que significa que debía confiar en ella.
¿Qué consejo se da sobre conocer a alguien nuevo?
Read this passage:
Cuando conoces a alguien por primera vez, es normal ser un poco cauteloso. No hay que desconfiar completamente de la persona, pero tampoco debes contarle todos tus secretos de inmediato. Es mejor conocerla un poco antes de abrirte por completo.
¿Qué consejo se da sobre conocer a alguien nuevo?
El pasaje sugiere 'es normal ser un poco cauteloso' y 'no hay que desconfiar completamente... pero tampoco debes contarle todos tus secretos'.
El pasaje sugiere 'es normal ser un poco cauteloso' y 'no hay que desconfiar completamente... pero tampoco debes contarle todos tus secretos'.
This sentence means 'She usually distrusts strangers.' The verb 'desconfiar' is often followed by 'de' when indicating what or whom is distrusted.
This sentence translates to 'I don't want to distrust you.' 'No quiero' expresses 'I don't want,' and 'desconfiar de' is the correct construction for 'to distrust someone.'
This sentence means 'They began to distrust his promises.' 'Empezaron a' means 'they began to,' and 'desconfiar de' is used to show distrust towards something.
Choose the best translation for 'desconfiar':
'Desconfiar' means to distrust or to be suspicious of. It's the opposite of 'confiar' (to trust).
Which sentence correctly uses 'desconfiar'?
The correct usage is 'desconfiar de algo/alguien'. 'Desconfío de sus intenciones' means 'I distrust his/her intentions'.
What is the most appropriate synonym for 'desconfiar'?
'Sospechar' is a close synonym for 'desconfiar' as both imply having doubts or feeling suspicious.
You can use 'desconfiar' when you don't trust someone's words.
Yes, 'desconfiar' is perfect for expressing a lack of trust in someone's words or actions.
The phrase 'confiar en' is the opposite of 'desconfiar de'.
'Confiar en' means 'to trust in', while 'desconfiar de' means 'to distrust'. They are indeed antonyms.
If you 'desconfías' of a situation, it means you feel completely comfortable with it.
No, if you 'desconfías' of a situation, it means you feel suspicious or uncomfortable, not completely comfortable.
Which of the following best describes the meaning of 'desconfiar'?
'Desconfiar' directly means to have a lack of trust or to be suspicious.
If you 'desconfías de alguien', what are you likely doing?
To 'desconfiar de alguien' implies a lack of trust in their intentions or truthfulness.
Choose the sentence where 'desconfiar' is used correctly.
'Desconfiar' is typically followed by 'de' when referring to a person or thing one distrusts.
If you 'desconfías de un trato', it means you think the deal is fair and beneficial.
If you 'desconfías de un trato', you have doubts or suspicions about its fairness or benefits.
The verb 'desconfiar' is often used to express a feeling of certainty.
On the contrary, 'desconfiar' expresses a feeling of doubt or uncertainty.
When someone says 'no desconfíes de mí', they are asking you to trust them.
'No desconfíes de mí' is a direct plea for trust, asking not to be distrusted.
It's essential to distrust unverified sources in the digital age.
We shouldn't distrust the intentions of our colleagues without solid proof.
The ability to distrust promises that are too good to be true is crucial in business.
Read this aloud:
Por qué es importante aprender a desconfiar de la información falsa?
Focus: des-con-fi-ar
Você disse:
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Read this aloud:
Describe una situación en la que sentiste la necesidad de desconfiar de alguien.
Focus: sen-tis-te, ne-ce-si-dad
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
En qué medida crees que desconfiar es un rasgo positivo en ciertas profesiones?
Focus: ras-go, pro-fe-sio-nes
Você disse:
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/ 54 correct
Perfect score!
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