significar
“significar” means “to mean” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to mean, to signify
Also: to denote
📝 In Action
¿Qué significa esa palabra en español?
A1What does that word mean in Spanish?
Para mí, la amistad significa lealtad.
A2For me, friendship means loyalty.
El semáforo en rojo significa que debes parar.
A2The red light signifies that you must stop.
to matter, to result in
Also: to represent
📝 In Action
Su renuncia significa una gran pérdida para la empresa.
B1His resignation means a great loss for the company.
Este pequeño cambio en la ley no significa nada para el ciudadano común.
B2This small change in the law doesn't mean anything/doesn't matter to the average citizen.
Cada voto significa que la gente cree en el proceso.
C1Every vote signifies that people believe in the process.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
🔀 Commonly Confused With
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "significar" in Spanish:
to denote→to matter→to mean→to represent→to signify→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: significar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'significar' to express importance or consequence, rather than simple definition?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *significare*, which means 'to make a sign' or 'to point out.' It is formed from *signum* (sign) and *facere* (to make).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'significar' and 'querer decir'?
Both mean 'to mean.' 'Significar' is often used for the objective meaning of words, symbols, or actions. 'Querer decir' (literally 'to want to say') is more commonly used in casual conversation, often referring to what a person intended to communicate: '¿Qué quieres decir?' (What do you mean?).
Is 'significar' a difficult verb to conjugate?
No, it's a regular verb, but it has a small spelling change (C to QU) in the preterite 'yo' form and all of the present subjunctive forms. This change is just to keep the hard 'K' sound consistent.