How to Say "to hint" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “to hint” is “insinuar” — B1 level.
Examples
Ella insinuó que el examen sería difícil.
She hinted that the exam would be difficult.
¿Qué estás insinuando con esas palabras?
What are you implying with those words?
El jefe insinuó la posibilidad de un ascenso.
The boss suggested the possibility of a promotion.
The Accent Shift
In the present tense, the 'u' gets a written accent (insinúo) to show that the sound is strong and separate, rather than blending into the next vowel.
Using 'que' after the verb
Just like in English we say 'hint that...', in Spanish we almost always use 'que' after 'insinuar' to introduce the thing being hinted.
Confusing with Sugerir
Mistake: “Using 'insinuar' for a helpful, direct suggestion.”
Correction: Use 'sugerir' for direct advice; 'insinuar' is for when you are being indirect or mysterious.
Related Translations
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