inseguro
/inseˈɡuɾo/
The Spanish word for 'unsafe' is inseguro.
The term inseguro is used to describe a situation, place or object that is not safe. Note that in Spanish, inseguro can also mean 'insecure' when describing a person's lack of self-confidence.
Meaning: not safe (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, inseguro must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. Use the feminine form insegura for feminine nouns, the masculine plural inseguros for a group of males or a mixed-gender group and the feminine plural inseguras for a group consisting only of females.
How do you pronounce it?
/inseˈɡuɾo/
Did you know?
- The root word seguro shares a common ancestor with the English word 'sure' and the Latin 'securus', which literally meant 'without care' or 'free from anxiety'.
- Describing a neighborhood as inseguro acts as a social code for high crime rates without needing to mention 'crime' explicitly.
- In certain legal or professional Spanish contexts, inseguro describes a lack of job stability or tenure rather than a lack of physical safety.
Examples in context
- Nunca me he sentido inseguro en Australia.I've never felt unsafe in Australia.This sentence shows how to express feeling inseguro in a specific location.Tatoeba #7156114 by arh, translation #7156096 by CK
- ¿Qué te hace sentir inseguro?What makes you feel unsafe?This sentence is a way to ask what causes someone to feel inseguro.Tatoeba #12380080 by DJ_Saidez, translation #12149140 by shekitten
- Ese callejón es muy inseguro de noche.That alley is very unsafe at night.
Example conversation
Mateo and María are discussing a route to take home.
- MateoNo quiero caminar por ese callejón.I don't want to walk through that alley.
- MaríaTienes razón, se ve muy inseguro.You are right, it looks very unsafe.
- MateoMejor vamos por la avenida principal.It's better if we go via the main avenue.
- MaríaSí, Mateo, es mucho más tranquilo.Yes, Mateo, it is much calmer.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “unsafe” translations and entries inseguro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries inseguro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
