confiant
/kɔ̃.fjɑ̃/
The English word 'confident' can be translated into French as confiant, sûr or assuré depending on the context.
Meaning: being very sure of or positive about something (adj)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| confiant | /kɔ̃.fjɑ̃/ |
| assuré | /a.sy.ʁe/ |
| sûr | /syʁ/ (Europe) /sʏʁ/ (Canada) |
French uses different words to express confidence depending on whether you are describing a feeling of trust, a sense of certainty or a self-assured personality.
Which one should you use?
confiant is typically used to describe a feeling of trust or a sense of security in a person or a situation. In contrast, sûr is used when expressing certainty about a specific fact or piece of information.
How does it change in a sentence?
To specifically describe someone as being 'confident in oneself' or self-assured, French speakers use the phrase sûr de soi.
How do you pronounce it?
confiant is pronounced /kɔ̃.fjɑ̃/. It has 2 syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using confiant when you mean you are certain about a factual piece of information. In those cases, sûr is much more natural.
Did you know?
- In French, the word assuré can refer to being confident, but it also means 'insured' in a financial or legal context, such as having an insurance policy.
- The word sûr is a homonym for the word sur, meaning 'on'. The only difference is the circumflex accent over the 'u', which helps distinguish 'confident' from a preposition.
- The word sûr shares an ancient root with the English word 'secure'. Both come from the Latin 'securus', meaning 'free from care'.
Examples in context
- Tu as l'air confiant.You seem confident.This sentence shows how to describe someone's appearance of being confiant.Tatoeba #4082683 by Scorpionvenin14, translation #4081903 by CK
- Tom était sûr de lui.Tom was confident.This sentence uses sûr to describe being confident in oneself.Tatoeba #5369521 by Aiji, translation #3424087 by CK
- Je me sentais confiant.I was feeling confident.This sentence describes a personal feeling of being confiant.Tatoeba #5393527 by Aiji, translation #4498525 by CK
- Elle est sûre d'elle avant de prendre la parole en publicShe is confident before speaking in public
- Le candidat était plein d'assurance pendant son entretienThe candidate was confident during his interview
- Il a la patate, il ne doute de rien !He's feeling great, he has no doubts!
- Il est sûr de son coup, il sait comment réussirHe's confident, he knows how to succeed
- 55 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Manon are talking about an upcoming presentation.
- HugoEs-tu confiant pour ta présentation ?Are you confident about your presentation?
- ManonOui, je me sens très confiante.Yes, I feel very confident.
- HugoC'est bien, tu es très préparée.That's good, you are very prepared.
- ManonMerci, j'espère que Hugo sera aussi confiant.Thanks, I hope Hugo will be just as confident.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “confident” translations and entries confiant, assuré, sûr, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sûr, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
