asegurar
verbCEFR B1High frequency
What does “asegurar” mean in English?
1.to assert, to assure
to assert, to assure (asegurar que + indicative; asegurarse de que = to make sure)
2.to insure, to secure physically — asegurar un bien / una propiedad; distinct from the assertion sense
Example sentences
Los organizadores aseguran que el evento comenzará a la hora anunciada, aunque todavía hay varias cuestiones técnicas por resolver.
The organisers assert that the event will begin at the announced time, although there are still several technical issues to resolve.
Te aseguro que hice todo lo posible para que el informe llegara a tiempo y con todos los datos que me pediste.
I assure you that I did everything possible to ensure the report arrived on time with all the data you asked for.
Antes de publicar el artículo, asegúrate de que todos los datos han sido verificados por al menos dos fuentes independientes.
Before publishing the article, make sure that all the data has been verified by at least two independent sources.
How to use it
Asegurar has three main senses. (1) To assert, to state confidently: asegurar que + indicative (positive assertion). (2) To assure someone: asegurar a alguien que + indicative. (3) To ensure or guarantee (that something works/is safe): asegurarse de que + indicative or asegurarse de + infinitive. The reflexive asegurarse is strictly 'to make sure' — the non-reflexive asegurar is 'to assert / to insure'. The yo-form is regular: aseguro.
Common mistake
Asegurar (positive assertion) takes indicative in the embedded clause: 'Asegura que es verdad' — the speaker is vouching for it. The reflexive asegurarse de que means 'to make sure', which can take indicative or subjunctive depending on whether the verification has happened yet (indicative: confirmed; subjunctive: checking in advance). Do not confuse asegurar (insure/assert) with asegurar + infinitive (to secure physically).