confidant — confident
[different end vowel sound]
“Confidant” (noun; for the right pronunciation, please click here) means ‘a person to whom another person (a friend, associate or relative) tells his/her secrets or personal matters’,
e.g.
My brother is my confidant; I usually discuss my personal problems with him.
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“Confident” (adjective; for the right pronunciation of this word, please click here) means ‘feeling or showing full trust or belief in one’s own or another person’s abilities; (of a person or animal) in full control of oneself’,
e.g.
The young speaker’s confident voice showed that he had considerable knowledge.
Common Errors:
1.
Her confidant walk suggested that she was not afraid of us. [wrong]
Her confident walk suggested that she was not afraid of us. [right]
2.
Mark is my friend and confident; whenever I have any personal problem, I confide in him. [wrong]
Mark is my friend and confidant; whenever I have any personal problem, I confide in him. [right]
3.
My pupils feel quite confident with their English. [wrong]
My pupils feel quite confident about their English. [right]
4.
He began to feel more confident of himself. [wrong]
He began to feel more self-confident. [right]
