confianza

Confianza is a Spanish noun that denotes trust, confidence, or reliance. It also conveys familiarity and closeness in social relations. In everyday use, confianza can refer to the belief that someone will act reliably as well as the feeling of ease and security that comes from a close relationship.

Etymology: The term derives from the verb confiar (to trust), from Latin roots related to faith and reliance. The noun confianza marks the state or quality of being trusted, or the thing that is trusted.

Usage: confiar is used with en to express trust in a person or thing (confiar en alguien). One can ganarse la confianza de alguien or perder la confianza de alguien. The noun confianza appears in contexts such as la confianza mutua, and in expressions like en confianza, meaning confidentially, or simply as social capital in networks.

Cultural and social dimension: In many Spanish-speaking communities, confianza denotes more than individual belief; it encompasses reciprocal obligations, informal networks, and cooperation. Building confianza often requires time, consistency, and discretion.

Related terms: credibilidad, fiabilidad, seguridad, fe. Confianza overlaps with English trust or confidence, but usage depends on context and nuances, such as the difference between confiar (to trust) and creer (to believe). Autoconfianza refers to self-confidence.