Cool MateCertain vs Confident
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
| Certain | Confident | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | sure, without any doubt | Feeling sure about yourself and your abilities. |
| CEFR level | A2 | B1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective |
| Usage notes | Use 'certain' when you want to express confidence in something. It's appropriate in both spoken and written English, but avoid it in very formal contexts where 'specific' or 'determined' may be better. | Use 'confident' to describe someone who believes in their skills. Generally appropriate in both formal and informal contexts. |
Frequently asked questions: Certain vs Confident
What's the difference between "Certain" and "Confident"?
"Certain" means: sure, without any doubt "Confident" means: Feeling sure about yourself and your abilities.
When should I use "Certain" and "Confident"?
They can all be used in everyday English.
Are "Certain" and "Confident" the same CEFR level?
"Certain" is at A2, "Confident" is at B1 on the CEFR scale.