garantizar
verbCEFR B2
What does “garantizar” mean in English?
1.to guarantee, to ensure
to guarantee, to ensure (formal commitment; garantizar que + subjunctive for future desired outcomes)
2.to guarantee, to ensure
to guarantee, to ensure (garantizar la calidad/seguridad — give a formal assurance that something will happen or is true)
Example sentences
La Constitución garantiza la igualdad de todos los ciudadanos ante la ley sin discriminación de ningún tipo.
The Constitution guarantees the equality of all citizens before the law without any form of discrimination.
Es fundamental garantizar que los fondos lleguen directamente a los beneficiarios sin pérdidas en el proceso.
It is essential to ensure that the funds reach the beneficiaries directly without losses in the process.
La empresa no puede garantizar la entrega en los plazos acordados dadas las circunstancias actuales.
The company cannot guarantee delivery within the agreed timelines given current circumstances.
How to use it
Garantizar means 'to guarantee' or 'to ensure'. At B2 it is a key policy and rights verb: el Estado garantiza, la ley garantiza. Two main constructions: garantizar + noun (garantizar el acceso — to guarantee access) and garantizar que + subjunctive (garantizar que se cumpla — to ensure that it is fulfilled). The subjunctive is required in the que-clause when referring to a desired future or uncertain outcome. The noun is la garantía. Don't confuse with asegurar — both mean 'to ensure', but garantizar is stronger and implies a formal commitment or legal obligation.
Common mistake
Garantizar que + subjunctive is required because the speaker is committing to a future outcome — not describing what is already the case. Don't use indicative: *garantizar que llega is possible only if the arrival is already confirmed and you are reporting a fact. The noun garantía also collocates with dar (dar garantías — to provide guarantees) as an alternative to the verb.