destacar
“destacar” means “to highlight” in Spanish (to emphasize an idea or point).
to highlight, to stand out
Also: to emphasize, to outline
📝 In Action
El profesor destacó los puntos más importantes de la lección.
B1The teacher highlighted the most important points of the lesson.
Ella destaca por su inteligencia y amabilidad.
B1She stands out for her intelligence and kindness.
Cabe destacar que el proyecto terminó a tiempo.
B2It is worth noting that the project finished on time.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: destacar
Question 1 of 3
How do you write 'I highlighted' in the past (preterite)?
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📚 Etymology▼
Derived from the Spanish word 'estaca' (stake). Originally, it meant to mark something with stakes or to move a soldier out of a group (to be 'un-staked' or detached from the main body).
First recorded: 17th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'destacar' the same as 'resaltar'?
Yes, they are very similar. 'Resaltar' is often used for visual highlighting (like with a marker), while 'destacar' is used for both visual prominence and metaphorical importance.
Does 'destacar' always need a spelling change?
No, only when the letter after the 'c' would be an 'e'. This happens in the 'yo' form of the preterite and the entire present subjunctive.
Can 'destacar' mean to 'detach'?
In a military context, yes, it can mean to send a group of soldiers on a specific mission, but this is much less common than its meaning of 'to highlight'.