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How to Say "to differentiate" in Spanish

English → Spanish

diferenciar

/dee-feh-rehn-syahr//difeɾenˈθjaɾ/

verbB1general
Use 'diferenciar' when you want to express how something or someone stands out from others, often due to unique qualities or characteristics.
A group of identical white birds flying together, with one bird having bright rainbow-colored wings.

Examples

Nuestra calidad nos diferencia de la competencia.

Our quality sets us apart from the competition.

Ella busca un estilo que la diferencie de los demás.

She looks for a style that makes her stand out from the others.

Reflexive Use ('Diferenciarse')

To say 'to be different from', Spanish often adds 'se' to the end: 'Se diferencia de los demás' means 'He differs from the others'.

Confusing 'Different' and 'Differentiate'

Mistake: “El es diferenciar.”

Correction: Él es diferente. Use 'diferenciar' for the action of making or seeing a difference, and 'diferente' to describe something.

distinguir

/dees-teen-GEER//distinˈɡiɾ/

verbA2formal
Use 'distinguir' when the focus is on being able to tell one thing or person apart from another, especially when there's a visual or sensory similarity.
A row of several red apples with one bright green apple in the middle.

Examples

No puedo distinguir el rojo del verde.

I can't tell red from green.

Es difícil distinguir entre estos dos tipos de vino.

It is difficult to distinguish between these two types of wine.

Los gemelos son tan parecidos que nadie los distingue.

The twins look so much alike that nobody can tell them apart.

The 'Yo' Form Spelling Change

For verbs ending in -guir, when the next letter is 'o' or 'a', the 'u' is dropped. This keeps the 'g' sounding like the 'g' in 'game' instead of changing to a 'h' sound.

Using 'de' vs 'entre'

Use 'entre' when talking about two things together (distinguir entre A y B), and use 'de' when comparing one thing to another (distinguir A de B).

Don't keep the 'u' in 'distingo'

Mistake: “Yo distinguo los colores.”

Correction: Yo distingo los colores. (The 'u' is dropped in the first-person present form).

Diferenciar vs. Distinguir

Learners often confuse 'diferenciar' and 'distinguir' by using 'diferenciar' when they mean to simply tell things apart. Remember, 'diferenciar' implies a quality that makes something stand out, while 'distinguir' is about the act of perceiving a difference.

Related Translations

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