Confess
Definition
Confess means to admit or acknowledge something, often a wrongdoing or a fault. It can also refer to making a formal declaration of belief, particularly in religious contexts.
Parts of Speech
- Verb
Pronunciation
American English
- IPA Pronunciation: /kənˈfɛs/
- Respelling: kuhn-FESS
British English
- IPA Pronunciation: /kənˈfɛs/
- Respelling: kuhn-FESS
Etymology
The word "confess" originates from the Latin word "confiteri," which means "to admit or acknowledge." It is a combination of "con-" (together) and "fateri" (to admit or confess). The word entered the English language in the 14th century and has retained its meaning related to admission, particularly of guilt or belief.
Derivatives
- Confession (noun)
- Confessor (noun)
- Confessional (noun)
- Confessedly (adverb)
- Unconfessed (adjective)
Synonyms
- Admit
- Acknowledge
- Disclose
Antonyms
- Deny
- Conceal
- Reject
Usage
The verb "confess" is commonly used to refer to the act of admitting something that was previously hidden, such as wrongdoing, faults, or beliefs. In legal contexts, it refers to admitting guilt, such as "He confessed to the crime." In religious contexts, it refers to acknowledging sins before a priest or religious figure, such as "She confessed her sins during confession."
Related Terms
- Admission: A statement acknowledging the truth of something.
- Guilt: The fact of having committed a specified or implied offense or crime.
- Repent: To feel or express regret for wrongdoing or sin.
Detailed Definitions
Verb
- To admit or acknowledge wrongdoing: Refers to openly admitting to a fault or crime.
- Example: "He confessed to cheating on the exam."
- To make a formal declaration of belief: Refers to publicly or privately declaring one's beliefs, particularly in religious contexts.
- Example: "She confessed her faith in front of the congregation."
- To acknowledge sins to a priest: Refers to admitting sins in a religious context, usually as part of a ritual or sacrament.
- Example: "He confessed his sins during the religious ceremony."
confess
He confessed to cheating on the exam.
He confessed his sins during the religious ceremony.
She confessed her faith in front of the congregation.
🇨🇳 Mandarin
- 承认 (chéngrèn) - admit to a wrongdoing
- IPA: /ʈʂʰəŋ˧˥ ʐənˋ/
- Respelling: cheng-REN
- 坦白 (tǎnbái) - disclose one's feelings
- IPA: /tʰan˨˩˦ paɪ˨˩˦/
- Respelling: tan-BAI
🇮🇳 Hindi
- कबूल करना (kabūl karnā) - admit to a wrongdoing
- IPA: /kəˈbuːl kərˈnaː/
- Respelling: ka-BOOL kar-NA
- इज़हार करना (izhār karnā) - disclose one's feelings
- IPA: /ɪˈʒɦaːr kərˈnaː/
- Respelling: iz-HAAR kar-NA
🇪🇸 Spanish
- confesar - admit to a wrongdoing
- IPA: /kon.feˈsaɾ/
- Respelling: kon-feh-SAR
- declarar - disclose one's feelings
- IPA: /de.klaˈɾaɾ/
- Respelling: dek-lah-RAR
🇫🇷 French
- avouer - admit to a wrongdoing
- IPA: /a.vwe/
- Respelling: a-VWAE
- déclarer - disclose one's feelings
- IPA: /de.kla.ʁe/
- Respelling: deh-KLAR-ay
🇸🇦 Modern Standard Arabic
- اعترف (i'tarafa) - admit to a wrongdoing
- IPA: /iːtˤarafa/
- Respelling: ee-TAR-afa
- أبوح (abūḥ) - disclose one's feelings
- IPA: /abuːħ/
- Respelling: a-BOOH
🇧🇩 Bengali
- স্বীকার করা (swīkār korā) - admit to a wrongdoing
- IPA: /ʃwiːkar kɔra/
- Respelling: shwee-KAR kor-AA
- প্রকাশ করা (prakāś korā) - disclose one's feelings
- IPA: /prokaʃ kɔra/
- Respelling: pro-KASH kor-AA
🇷🇺 Russian
- признаться (priznat'sya) - admit to a wrongdoing
- IPA: /prʲɪzˈnat͡sʲə/
- Respelling: preez-NAT-sya
- открыться (otkryt'sya) - disclose one's feelings
- IPA: /ɐtˈkrɨt͡sʲə/
- Respelling: ot-KRYT-sya
🇵🇹 Portuguese
- confessar - admit to a wrongdoing
- IPA: /kõ.fɨˈsaɾ/
- Respelling: kon-feh-SAR
- declarar - disclose one's feelings
- IPA: /dɨ.klaˈɾaɾ/
- Respelling: deh-kla-RAR
🇮🇩 Indonesian
- mengaku - admit to a wrongdoing
- IPA: /mə.ŋa.ku/
- Respelling: meng-AH-koo
- menyatakan - disclose one's feelings
- IPA: /mən.ja.tʃan/
- Respelling: men-YAH-tah-kan
🇩🇪 German
- gestehen - admit to a wrongdoing
- IPA: /ɡəˈʃteːən/
- Respelling: geh-SHTEY-en
- offenbaren - disclose one's feelings
- IPA: /ˈɔfn̩.baːʁən/
- Respelling: OFF-en-ba-ren
🇯🇵 Japanese
- 告白する (kokuhaku suru) - disclose one's feelings or admit to a wrongdoing
- IPA: /ko.ku.ha.ku su.ru/
- Respelling: KO-koo-HAH-koo soo-ROO
🇻🇳 Vietnamese
- thú nhận - admit to a wrongdoing
- IPA: /tʰu˧˥ ɲan˧˧/
- Respelling: THOO NYAN
- bày tỏ - disclose one's feelings
- IPA: /baːj˨˩ tɔ˧˥/
- Respelling: BAI TO
🇰🇷 Korean
- 고백하다 (gobaek hada) - disclose one's feelings or admit to a wrongdoing
- IPA: /go.bɛk ha.da/
- Respelling: GO-baek HAH-dah
🇹🇷 Turkish
- itiraf etmek - admit to a wrongdoing
- IPA: /i.tiː.raf etˈmek/
- Respelling: it-TIR-af ET-mek
- açığa vurmak - disclose one's feelings
- IPA: /aː.ʧɯː vurˈmak/
- Respelling: AH-chuh VOOR-mak
🇵🇰 Urdu
- اقرار کرنا (iqrār karnā) - admit to a wrongdoing
- IPA: /ɪq.raːr kərˈnaː/
- Respelling: ik-RAAR kar-NA
- ظاہر کرنا (ẓāhir karnā) - disclose one's feelings
- IPA: /ʒaːhɪr kərˈnaː/
- Respelling: ZAH-hir kar-NA
