Spanish word

cierto

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈθjeɾto/

Meaning

  • adjectivecertain

Example

Es cierto que lloverá.

It is certain that it will rain.

Illustration for cierto (certain)

More examples

Lo doy por cierto hasta que me demuestren lo contrario.

I take it as certain until proven otherwise.

Core concept

Verified stamp on a report.

Common phrases

  • es cierto

    be certain

  • dar por cierto

    take as certain

  • en cierto modo

    in a certain sense

Similar words

seguro: Confidently believed to be true with little or no doubt.
claro: Easy to understand or clearly apparent in meaning or appearance.
verdadero: Accurate and corresponding to reality or the facts.
confirmado: Established as true after investigation or supporting evidence.

Definition in Spanish

Que no ofrece dudas por estar comprobado o probado; también se usa ante un sustantivo para expresar 'alguno' o 'determinado'.

Word origin

Derived from Latin certus, the past participle of cernere 'to sift or distinguish', which gave the sense 'determined' and then 'certain' or 'proven'.

Usage tips

  • Cierto before a noun often signals 'some' or 'a particular' rather than the stronger English sense of 'certain', so context shows whether the speaker means a specific item or an unspecified one.

Other meanings

  • someadjective
  • particularadjective

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word