distribuir
“distribuir” means “to distribute” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to distribute, to hand out
Also: to deliver
📝 In Action
La empresa distribuye sus productos por todo el país.
B1The company distributes its products across the whole country.
El profesor distribuyó los exámenes a los estudiantes.
A2The teacher handed out the exams to the students.
Necesitamos un camión para distribuir la ayuda humanitaria.
B2We need a truck to distribute the humanitarian aid.
to arrange / organize, to allocate
📝 In Action
Debemos distribuir mejor los muebles en la sala.
B1We should arrange the furniture better in the living room.
Tienes que aprender a distribuir tu tiempo.
B2You have to learn to allocate your time.
El arquitecto distribuyó los espacios de forma eficiente.
C1The architect organized the spaces efficiently.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: distribuir
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the correct 'I' form (Present Tense)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'distribuere', which combines 'dis-' (apart) and 'tribuere' (to assign or allot). It basically means 'to give out to different parts'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'distribuir' only for business?
No, while it is common in business, you can use it to talk about how you organize your furniture at home or how you plan your study schedule (distribuir el tiempo).
Why does it have a 'y' in some forms?
It's a spelling rule in Spanish. When you have an 'u' next to an 'o', 'e', or 'a', Spanish adds a 'y' to ensure the syllables are pronounced clearly.
Can I use 'repartir' instead?
Usually, yes! 'Repartir' is more casual and common in daily conversation, while 'distribuir' sounds a bit more organized and formal.