diferencia
“diferencia” means “difference” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
difference
Also: distinction, disagreement, remainder
📝 In Action
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'ser' y 'estar'?
A2What is the difference between 'ser' and 'estar'?
Hay una gran diferencia de precio entre los dos coches.
B1There's a big price difference between the two cars.
Tuvieron una pequeña diferencia y ahora no se hablan.
B2They had a small disagreement and now they aren't speaking to each other.
La diferencia entre diez y cuatro es seis.
A2The difference between ten and four is six.
he/she/it differentiates
Also: differentiate!
📝 In Action
El catador diferencia los matices del vino con facilidad.
B1The taster differentiates the nuances of the wine with ease.
¡Diferencia bien los hechos de las opiniones en tu ensayo!
B2Differentiate the facts from the opinions well in your essay!
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "diferencia" in Spanish:
difference→differentiate!→disagreement→distinction→remainder→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: diferencia
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'diferencia' to mean 'disagreement'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'differentia', which means 'a carrying apart' or 'a setting apart'. It's built from 'dis-' (apart) and 'ferre' (to carry, to bear). So, its original meaning was literally about things being 'carried apart' from each other.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'diferencia' and 'diferente'?
'Diferencia' is the noun, meaning 'the difference' (la diferencia). 'Diferente' is the adjective, meaning 'different' (un coche diferente). Think of it like in English: you find a 'difference' between two things that are 'different'.
How do I use the phrase 'marcar la diferencia'?
It means 'to make a difference' or 'to stand out'. You can use it to talk about someone's positive impact. For example, 'Su trabajo voluntario realmente marca la diferencia en la comunidad' (Her volunteer work really makes a difference in the community).