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How to Say "to discern" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to discern” is “distinguir” — use 'distinguir' when you are able to clearly make out or identify something specific, often by sight or sound, even if it's not immediately obvious..

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distinguir

/dees-teen-GEER//distinˈɡiɾ/

verbB1general
Use 'distinguir' when you are able to clearly make out or identify something specific, often by sight or sound, even if it's not immediately obvious.
A small lighthouse shining a bright light through a light gray mist.

Examples

No podía distinguir las caras en la multitud.

I couldn't distinguish the faces in the crowd.

Había tanta niebla que no se podía distinguir la carretera.

There was so much fog that you couldn't make out the road.

Desde aquí se distingue la silueta de la montaña.

From here, you can make out the silhouette of the mountain.

Passive 'Se'

This meaning often uses the word 'se' (se distingue) to mean 'can be seen' or 'is visible,' making it a passive action.

vislumbrar

bees-loom-BRAR/bis.lumˈbɾaɾ/

verbB2general
Choose 'vislumbrar' when you perceive something vaguely or indistinctly, catching only a glimpse or an unclear impression.
A small deer partially visible through thick forest mist and tall green trees.

Examples

Desde la colina, pudimos vislumbrar el mar.

From the hill, we could glimpse the sea.

A través de la niebla, pude vislumbrar la silueta de un barco.

Through the fog, I could make out the silhouette of a ship.

Desde la cima, se vislumbran los pequeños pueblos del valle.

From the peak, you can catch a glimpse of the small villages in the valley.

Apenas logré vislumbrar su rostro antes de que se fuera.

I barely managed to catch a glimpse of his face before he left.

Using 'Poder'

This word is very often paired with the verb 'poder' (can/be able to) because it emphasizes the effort or difficulty of seeing something clearly.

Always Regular

Even though it looks fancy, this verb follows the standard rules for all verbs ending in -ar. No surprise spelling changes here!

Don't use for 'to see' everyday things

Mistake: “Vislumbro mis llaves en la mesa.”

Correction: Veo mis llaves en la mesa. Use 'vislumbrar' only when something is hard to see because of light, distance, or obstacles.

Distinguishing 'distinguir' from 'vislumbrar'

Learners often confuse 'distinguir' and 'vislumbrar' when something is barely visible. Remember, 'distinguir' implies you can actually identify or separate it from its surroundings, while 'vislumbrar' means you only catch a faint or partial view.

Related Translations

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