designar
“designar” means “to appoint” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to appoint
Also: to designate, to name
📝 In Action
El director designó a María para liderar el proyecto.
B1The director appointed María to lead the project.
Me designaron como el encargado de las llaves.
A2They named me as the person in charge of the keys.
Es necesario designar a un representante legal pronto.
B2It is necessary to appoint a legal representative soon.
to identify
Also: to denote, to earmark
📝 In Action
Las líneas rojas designan las zonas de peligro.
B2The red lines identify the danger zones.
El gobierno designó fondos para la educación.
C1The government earmarked funds for education.
Esta palabra se usa para designar un tipo de planta.
B2This word is used to denote a type of plant.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "designar" in Spanish:
to appoint→to denote→to designate→to earmark→to identify→to name→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: designar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly uses 'designar' to mean 'appoint'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'designare', meaning 'to mark out' or 'point out'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'designar' formal?
Yes, it is more formal than 'nombrar' (to name) or 'elegir' (to choose). You will see it often in contracts, news, and official announcements.
Does it mean 'to design'?
No! This is a common trap. 'To design' is 'diseñar'. 'Designar' is more about 'pointing out' or 'assigning'.
Can I use 'designar' for things?
Yes, you can use it to 'designate' a specific area (like a smoking area) or 'designate' funds for a project.