Inklingo

How to Say "to mean" in Spanish

English → Spanish

significar

sig-ni-fi-CARsiɣ.ni.fiˈkaɾ

verbA1
Use this when asking for the definition or interpretation of a word, phrase, or concept.
A bright red apple floating in the air, connected by a dashed line to a thought bubble containing a simple drawing of a smiling person holding a basket of fruit, representing what the apple means or symbolizes.

Examples

¿Qué significa 'efímero'?

What does 'ephemeral' mean?

¿Qué significa esa palabra en español?

What does that word mean in Spanish?

Para mí, la amistad significa lealtad.

For me, friendship means loyalty.

El semáforo en rojo significa que debes parar.

The red light signifies that you must stop.

The -car Spelling Change

To keep the hard 'k' sound of the 'c' before the soft 'e' in the preterite 'yo' form and the entire present subjunctive, the 'c' changes to 'qu' (e.g., 'yo signifiqué,' 'que yo signifique').

Confusing 'Significar' and 'Ser'

Mistake: “'¿Qué es la amistad?' (Asking for a definition, which is okay, but less common)”

Correction: '¿Qué significa la amistad?' (Asking for the meaning or concept is much more natural and common in Spanish.)

referir

reh-feh-REERrefeˈɾiɾ

verbA2
Use this when you need clarification on what someone is talking about or alluding to.
A person pointing specifically at a single red apple in a basket full of green apples to clarify which one they mean.

Examples

No entiendo a qué te refieres con eso.

I don't understand what you mean by that.

¿A qué te refieres?

What do you mean?

Me refiero a la película que vimos ayer.

I'm referring to the movie we saw yesterday.

Esta ley se refiere a los derechos de los niños.

This law refers to children's rights.

Using the 'Se' and 'A'

When you want to say 'to refer to,' you must use the pronoun (me, te, se, etc.) and follow the verb with the word 'a'.

Missing the 'A'

Mistake: “¿Qué te refieres?”

Correction: ¿A qué te refieres? (You always need 'a' before the thing you are referring to).

suponer

soo-poh-NEHRsu.poˈneɾ

verbB2
Use this when one situation or action implies or entails a consequence or another situation.
A person climbing a steep, winding mountain path to reach a small house at the top.

Examples

La nueva política supone un gran cambio para la empresa.

The new policy means a big change for the company.

Este proyecto supone un gran desafío para nosotros.

This project involves a great challenge for us.

Comprar una casa supone muchos gastos.

Buying a house entails many expenses.

Abstract Subjects

In this meaning, the 'thing' doing the action is often an idea or a situation (like 'the move' or 'the job'), not a person.

Significar vs. Referir

Learners often confuse 'significar' and 'referir'. Remember: 'significar' is for definitions ('What does X mean?'), while 'referir' is for clarifying who or what someone is talking about ('What do *you* mean?').

Related Translations

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