Are you sure
Formal version, used when speaking to someone you don't know, an older person, or in a professional setting. The ending changes to 'segura' if you are asking a woman.
A very common, casual, and shortened way to ask. It's like saying 'Sure?' in English.
Means 'Really?' or 'For real?'. Use it to express surprise or to double-check information you find hard to believe.
Means 'Seriously?'. It's very similar to '¿De verdad?' and is used to show disbelief or seek confirmation.
- The movie starts at 8. - Are you sure? I thought it was at 9.
Excuse me, sir, are you sure this is the bus to the museum?
- I'm going to quit my job. - Seriously? Why?
- The test is tomorrow. - Really? I didn't study at all!
Mom, are you sure you need more salt in the food?
The key is choosing between the informal 'tú' ('¿Estás seguro?') and the formal 'usted' ('¿Está seguro?'). Also, the adjective must match the gender of the person you're asking: 'seguro' for a man, 'segura' for a woman.
'¿Estás seguro?' is standard with friends, family, and peers. '¿Está seguro?' is used for elders and in formal situations.
It is very common to use the formal 'usted' even in informal settings, so you will hear '¿Está seguro?' frequently among friends and family.
While 'vos' is used instead of 'tú', the verb conjugation for 'estar' is the same ('estás'). So, the phrase remains '¿Estás seguro?'. The informal plural is 'ustedes', as in the rest of Latin America.
The singular forms ('¿Estás seguro?/¿Está seguro?') are the same. However, for the informal plural 'you', they use 'vosotros', resulting in '¿Estáis seguros?' (for a group of men or a mixed group) or '¿Estáis seguras?' (for a group of women).
Using 'ser' instead of 'estar' — Saying '¿Eres seguro?' is incorrect. 'Ser seguro' means 'to be a safe person' or for something 'to be safe.' For the feeling or state of being sure, you must use 'estar': '¿Estás seguro?'
Not matching the gender — The word 'seguro' is an adjective and must match the gender of the person you're talking to. If you are asking a woman, you must say '¿Estás segura?' with an 'a' at the end.
Confusing '¿De verdad?' with a question about truth — While '¿De verdad?' literally means 'Of truth?', it functions like 'Really?' in English to express surprise or doubt, not just to ask if something is objectively true. It's a conversational filler.
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