seguro
Lemma Details
Translation: safe; secure; sure; certain; insurance; safety; surely; certainly
Part of Speech: adjective, noun, adverb
Etymology: From Latin 'securus', composed of 'se-' (without) and 'cura' (care, worry), literally meaning 'without care' or 'without worry'. This is the same Latin root that gave English words like 'secure', 'security', and 'sure'. The evolution from Latin to Spanish maintained both the form and core meaning of being free from danger or doubt.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 80%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Estoy seguro de que vendrá mañana.
I am sure that he will come tomorrow.
Este es un lugar seguro para los niños.
This is a safe place for children.
Necesito comprar un seguro para mi coche nuevo.
I need to buy insurance for my new car.
Seguro que llueve esta tarde.
It will surely rain this afternoon.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'secure' in English - they sound similar and have the same meaning.
- Remember 'se-cura' (it cures itself) - when something is secure, you don't need to worry about fixing it.
- For the insurance meaning, think of security being something you pay for.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, 'seguro' is frequently used in everyday conversation both as an adjective to express certainty and as a noun referring to various types of insurance. Insurance ('seguro') is an important concept in Spanish-speaking societies, with different types like 'seguro social' (social security) being fundamental parts of the social system.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Seguro' as an adverb means 'surely/certainly' while 'seguramente' also means 'probably/most likely' but with slightly less certainty in some contexts.
Confused word:
Seguramente vendrá mañana.
He will probably come tomorrow.
Notes: In many contexts they can be used interchangeably, but 'seguro' tends to express more certainty.
Mnemonic: 'Seguro' is shorter and more definite; 'seguramente' is longer and leaves a bit more room for doubt.
Explanation: 'Seguro' is the noun/adjective, while 'asegurar' is the verb meaning 'to insure' or 'to ensure/make sure'.
Confused word:
Voy a asegurar mi coche.
I'm going to insure my car.
Notes: They share the same root but different grammatical functions.
Mnemonic: Think of the 'a-' prefix in 'asegurar' as indicating action (the verb form).