no estoy seguro
/no estoi seɡuɾo/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "I'm not sure" is expressed as no estoy seguro.
The phrase is used to express that you do not have certain knowledge or a definite opinion about something. It is the most common and neutral way to express this feeling in Spanish. For more specific nuances, you can use No estoy completamente seguro/a to emphasize that you are not completely sure. If you want to say you have no idea at all, you can use the colloquial phrase No tengo ni idea or even more strongly, No tengo ni la más mínima idea (I don't have the slightest idea) or No tengo ni la menor idea (I don't have the faintest idea).
Which one should you use?
While no estoy seguro expresses doubt or a lack of certainty, the phrase no lo sé is a more direct way to say "I don't know". Additionally, no estoy seguro uses the verb estar because uncertainty is considered a temporary state of mind rather than a permanent characteristic.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the adjective must match the gender of the speaker: a male speaker uses the masculine no estoy seguro, while a female speaker must use the feminine form no estoy segura. When the phrase is followed by a noun or a clause, it often requires the preposition de to connect to the object of uncertainty, resulting in no estoy seguro de…
Did you know?
- While you might use 'no estoy seguro' to express doubt, the word seguro can also be used as a noun to mean 'insurance' in many Spanish-speaking countries.
- In Spanish, the word seguro can be used as a standalone response meaning 'of course' or 'sure', effectively acting as a synonym for 'yes'.
- The word seguro comes from the Latin sēcūrus, which literally meant being 'without care' or 'free from anxiety'.
Examples in context
- No estoy seguro de por qué.I'm not sure why.This sentence is useful for explaining why you are uncertain using no estoy seguro.Tatoeba #1744861 by Shishir, translation #1737569 by Spamster
- Ya no estoy seguro de nada.I'm not sure of anything anymore.This sentence shows how to express that you are no longer sure of anything using no estoy seguro.Tatoeba #4531063 by cueyayotl, translation #9359915 by DJ_Saidez
- No estoy seguro al respecto.I'm not sure about it.This sentence is useful for expressing uncertainty regarding a specific matter using no estoy seguro.Tatoeba #1534541 by marcelostockle, translation #1115004 by CM
- No estoy completamente seguro/a, pero tengo al menos dos años de experiencia.I'm not completely sure, but I have at least two years of experience.
- No tengo ni idea. No he recibido ninguna actualización.I have no idea. I haven't received any updates.
- 90 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and María are discussing whether to go to a new restaurant.
- Javier¿Es un buen restaurante?Is it a good restaurant?
- MaríaNo estoy segura, pero dicen que es caro.I'm not sure, but they say it is expensive.
- JavierEntonces, no estoy seguro de querer ir.Then, I'm not sure I want to go.
- MaríaPodemos buscar otro lugar.We can look for another place.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries no, seguro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
