How to Say "to point" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to point” is “apuntar” — use 'apuntar' when indicating direction with a finger or an object, or when something is aimed at a target..
apuntar
/ah-poon-TAHR//apunˈtaɾ/
Examples
El guía apuntó hacia la montaña y explicó su historia.
The guide pointed toward the mountain and explained its history.
No es de mala educación apuntar con el dedo.
It is rude to point with your finger.
El arquero apunta al centro de la diana.
The archer aims at the center of the target.
La brújula apunta hacia el norte.
The compass points toward the north.
Direction words
When aiming or pointing at something, we usually use 'a' (to) or 'hacia' (toward) after the verb.
Using 'point' for people
Mistake: “Saying 'apuntar' when you mean to 'pick' someone for a team.”
Correction: Use 'elegir' or 'seleccionar' for picking people; 'apuntar' is about the physical gesture of pointing.
encarar
/en-ka-rar//eŋkaˈɾaɾ/
Examples
El reportero encaró el micrófono a la celebridad.
The reporter pointed the microphone at the celebrity.
El fotógrafo encaró su cámara hacia el paisaje.
The photographer pointed his camera toward the landscape.
Encaró el coche hacia la salida.
He pointed the car toward the exit.
El delantero encaró la portería y tiró.
The forward faced the goal and shot.
Directional 'hacia'
When using 'encarar' to mean 'pointing toward,' it is very common to use the word 'hacia' (toward) to show the direction.
Apuntar vs. Encarar
Related Translations
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