destinar
“destinar” means “to allocate” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to allocate
Also: to set aside, to earmark
📝 In Action
Debemos destinar más recursos a la educación.
B1We must allocate more resources to education.
Voy a destinar el domingo a descansar.
A2I am going to set aside Sunday for resting.
La empresa decidió destinar los beneficios a la investigación.
B2The company decided to earmark the profits for research.
to station
Also: to assign, to post
📝 In Action
Fue destinado a la embajada de Madrid.
B2He was posted to the embassy in Madrid.
El soldado fue destinado a la frontera.
B1The soldier was stationed at the border.
Me destinaron a un nuevo departamento.
B2They assigned me to a new department.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: destinar
Question 1 of 3
Which preposition usually follows 'destinar' when talking about where money is going?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'destinare', which meant 'to make firm', 'to establish', or 'to fasten down'. It carries the idea of deciding something firmly beforehand.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'destinar' the same as 'destino'?
'Destinar' is the action (to allocate or assign), while 'destino' is the noun meaning either your final destination or your fate/destiny.
Can I use 'destinar' for people in a casual way?
Not really. If you are just telling a friend where to go, use 'mandar' or 'enviar'. 'Destinar' sounds like a boss, a government, or an army is making an official decision.
Does it mean 'to destine' in a magical sense?
Rarely as a verb. While the root is the same, 'destinar' is usually practical (money/jobs). For 'fated to happen', we usually use the adjective 'destinado a' (e.g., 'Estamos destinados a estar juntos').