certificar
verbCEFR B1
What does “certificar” mean in English?
to certify, to authenticate
to certify, to authenticate (by an authorised institution or notary); noun: el certificado
Example sentences
El notario certificó que la firma era auténtica y que el firmante había actuado con plena capacidad legal en el momento de suscribir el documento.
The notary certified that the signature was genuine and that the signatory had acted with full legal capacity at the time of signing the document.
Para que sus títulos universitarios sean reconocidos en España, necesita que los certifique un traductor jurado y que los selle el consulado competente.
For your university degrees to be recognised in Spain, you need a sworn translator to certify them and the competent consulate to stamp them.
¿Podría indicarme si es posible certificar este documento directamente en la embajada o si primero debo apostillarlo en el Ministerio?
Could you tell me whether it is possible to certify this document directly at the embassy or whether I first need to get it apostilled at the Ministry?
How to use it
Certificar means 'to certify / to authenticate' — to give official verification that something is genuine or true. The agent is usually a notary (notario), public institution, or officially recognised professional. The noun is el certificado (the certificate/certification document). A related B1 collocate is traducción jurada (sworn translation), which must be certificada by an official interpreter. In Latin American Spanish the equivalent act is sometimes called notarizar.
Common mistake
Certificar is not the same as acreditar (to prove/demonstrate). Certificar requires an authorised institution to issue a formal document. The noun el certificado refers to the document (certificate of residence = certificado de empadronamiento); do not confuse with el certificado de origen (customs document) — context matters.