indican
/een-DEE-kahn/
they indicate
When people indicate something, they clearly point it out or show where it is.
indican(verb)
they indicate
?present tense action
,you (all) indicate
?present tense action (formal plural)
they show
?to point something out
,they specify
?to give details
📝 In Action
Las señales de tráfico indican el límite de velocidad.
A2The traffic signs indicate the speed limit.
Ellos indican que la reunión será mañana por la mañana.
B1They indicate that the meeting will be tomorrow morning.
¿Qué indican los documentos que nos entregaron?
B1What do the documents they gave us show?
💡 Grammar Points
Identifying 'Indican'
'Indican' is the 'they' form of the verb 'indicar' (to indicate) in the present tense. It is used when the action is being done by two or more people or things.
Spelling Change Rule (C to QU)
Even though 'indicar' is mostly regular, notice how the 'c' changes to 'qu' before 'e' (like in 'indiqué' or 'indiquen'). This is only to keep the hard 'k' sound.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the wrong subject
Mistake: "El mapa indican la ruta. (The map indicate the route.)"
Correction: El mapa indica la ruta. (The map indicates the route.) Remember: 'indican' is plural; 'indica' is singular.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal vs. Informal Plural
In Latin America, 'indican' is used for both 'they' (ellos/ellas) and 'you all' (ustedes). In Spain, 'vosotros' (you all, informal) uses 'indicáis'.
To suggest is to hint at a conclusion or offer an idea indirectly.
indican(verb)
they suggest
?to hint at a conclusion
,they signal
?to provide evidence of something
they denote
?formal written context
📝 In Action
Los síntomas indican un resfriado fuerte.
B2The symptoms suggest a severe cold.
Todos los estudios indican que el cambio climático es real.
C1All the studies indicate that climate change is real.
💡 Grammar Points
Use with Abstract Subjects
This meaning often uses abstract subjects like 'data,' 'results,' or 'signs' rather than people. (Example: 'Los datos indican...')
⭐ Usage Tips
Choosing the Right Verb
Use 'indican' when the evidence is strong and points clearly to a conclusion. Use 'sugieren' (they suggest) if the evidence is less conclusive.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: indican
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'indican' to mean 'suggest' or 'signal'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'indican' used for people or things?
'Indican' can be used for both! It is the plural verb form, so the subject must be plural. You can say 'Ellos indican' (People) or 'Los datos indican' (Things/Data).
How do I say 'they indicated' (in the past)?
You would use the preterite form: 'indicaron'. For example, 'Ellos indicaron el camino ayer' (They indicated the path yesterday).