Portuguese · Emotions & Descriptions
"Sure (certain)" in Portuguese: certo/a
certo/a
Note: also: seguro/a
Sure in the sense of certain is certo or certa in Portuguese. Tenho certeza and estou certo/certa are everyday confidence lines; seguro is a different adjective.
Directions check
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How to pronounce certo/a
Say it
SEHR-too / SEHR-tah
/ˈseʁ.tu/, /ˈseʁ.ta/
SEHR-too / SEHR-tah
"Sure (certain)" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| certo / certa | sure / certain / right Gender agreement. | Gender agreement. |
| tenho certeza | I'm sure Strong certainty. | Strong certainty. |
| tem certeza? | are you sure? Double-check. | Double-check. |
| não tenho certeza | I'm not sure Doubt. | Doubt. |
How to use certo/a in real life
- 1Directions check
Você está certo de que é esta rua?
Are you sure this is the street?
Estar certo de que…
- 2Own conviction
Estou certa: o museu fecha às dezoito.
I'm sure: the museum closes at six.
Certa feminine.
- 3Soft doubt
Não estou certo sobre o horário do ônibus.
I'm not sure about the bus time.
Sobre = about.
Mistakes English speakers make with certo/a
Incorrect: Estou seguro (meaning I'm certain).
Correct: Estou certo / tenho certeza.
Seguro often means safe or insured; certo fits certainty.
Incorrect: Eu sou sure.
Correct: Eu tenho certeza. / Estou certo.
Use Portuguese forms.
Good to know
Certo? as a tag means right? in conversation. For yes/okay agreements people also say beleza or fechado—different from certainty certo.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Confirming a meeting point
ChatPal
O ponto é em frente ao banco, certo?
The stop is in front of the bank, right?
You
Tenho certeza que sim.
I'm sure it is.
ChatPal
Ótimo. Estou certo do horário também.
Great. I'm sure of the time too.
You
Então nos vemos lá.
Then we'll see each other there.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Sure (certain)" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Sure (certain)" in Portuguese
Are you sure?
Tem certeza?
I'm sure?
Tenho certeza / estou certo(a).
Sure as okay?
Often beleza / pode ser—not certo.
Seguro?
Usually safe/secure/insured—not this meaning.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
