insegura

Insegura is an adjective used in Spanish and Portuguese to indicate a lack of safety or certainty. It can describe physical conditions, objects, or abstract states, and it is also used to refer to people who feel uncertain or lack confidence. In everyday language, insegura translates as insecure or unsafe, depending on context.

Etymology: The form derives from the negative prefix in- attached to seguro, meaning safe or secure, in both Spanish and Portuguese. The construction ultimately traces to Latin securus, with similar cognates in other Romance languages.

Grammar and usage: In Spanish, insegura is the feminine singular form (masculine inseguro; plural inseguras, inseguros). It commonly modifies nouns: lugar inseguro, sistema inseguro, persona insegura, relación insegura, etc. In conversational Spanish one can say estar insegura about a decision or a position. In Portuguese, insegura is the feminine singular (masculine inseguro; plural inseguras, inseguros). It is used similarly: conexão insegura, caminho inseguro, pessoa insegura, ela se sente insegura.

Semantic notes: The word often conveys a lack of security or confidence. In Spanish, insegura can describe emotional states (she feels insecure) as well as objective conditions (unsafe streets). The related noun inseguridad denotes insecurity or lack of safety; in Portuguese, insegurança has the same range of meanings, with inseguro/insegura as adjectives.

See also: Inseguridad, insegurança. Comparisons with seguro/segurança highlight the distinction between safety or security as a state versus confidence or certainty in a person.