convencer
verbCEFR B2
What does “convencer” mean in English?
1.to convince, to persuade
to convince, to persuade (convencer a alguien de que / de + inf — persuasion through argument and evidence)
2.to convince
to convince (convencer a alguien de + inf / de que + subjunctive — requires personal obj + prep)
Example sentences
No es fácil convencer a nadie de que renuncie a sus intereses inmediatos en beneficio de un bien común abstracto.
It isn't easy to convince anyone to give up their immediate interests in favour of an abstract common good.
Sus argumentos no me convencen del todo, aunque reconozco que presenta los datos con rigor.
His arguments don't fully convince me, though I acknowledge that he presents the data rigorously.
Estoy convencido de que el enfoque alternativo daría mejores resultados a largo plazo.
I am convinced that the alternative approach would give better results in the long term.
How to use it
Convencer (transitive, 'to convince', 'to persuade') at B2 operates at the level of argument quality: you convince someone with evidence and reasoning. Pattern: convencer a alguien de que + indicative (the thing you convince them of is presented as true) / convencer a alguien de + infinitive (same subject: 'convencer a alguien de aceptar'). The passive/reflexive form estar convencido de que + indicative ('to be convinced that…') is essential for expressing strong belief. Note: convencer takes direct object for the person and de for the content.
Common mistake
The pattern after convencer a alguien de que depends on the embedded clause: if it is a fact being accepted, use indicative. If it is an action being agreed to (i.e. a volition context), use subjunctive: 'Me convenció de que fuera a la reunión' (he persuaded me to go = subjunctive because going = volitional). The estar convencido de que construction always takes indicative — the speaker is asserting a belief as true. Don't confuse with persuadir (near-synonym, somewhat more formal) or demostrar (to prove).