How to Say "to signify" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to signify” is “significar” — use 'significar' when you want to ask for or state the general meaning of a word, phrase, or symbol in everyday conversation..
significar
sig-ni-fi-CAR/siɣ.ni.fiˈkaɾ/
Examples
¿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.)
expresar
eks-preh-SAHR/eks.pɾeˈsaɾ/
Examples
El símbolo 'E' expresa la energía en física.
The symbol 'E' represents energy in physics.
Esta danza expresa la historia de la comunidad.
This dance shows the history of the community.
Abstract Use
In this formal sense, the subject is often an inanimate object (a painting, a formula, a color) that performs the action of representing something else.
Significar vs. Expresar
Related Translations
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