Meaning and behavior
What does destacar mean?
Destacar means to emphasize, to highlight, to stress, to point out, to single out, to underline, to underscore, to bring out, to note. VerbyGo classifies it as an irregular -AR verb. It is non-reflexive.
to detach troops; to stand out, to excel, to shine.
Build from reliable parts
Principal forms
- Infinitive
- destacar
- Gerund
- destacando
- Past participle
- destacado
Verified irregular pattern
How this verb behaves
Its forms differ from a fully regular -ar pattern in the preterite.
Conjugation guide
Present forms
Present forms
Present
Use the present forms of destacar for current situations, routines and actions that happen regularly.
| Subject | Destacar |
|---|---|
| yo | destaco |
| tú | destacas |
| él / ella / usted | destaca |
| nosotros / nosotras | destacamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | destacáis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | destacan |
Conjugation guide
Past forms
Past forms
Preterite
Use the preterite when the action of destacar is presented as completed in the past.
| Subject | Destacar |
|---|---|
| yo | destaqué |
| tú | destacaste |
| él / ella / usted | destacó |
| nosotros / nosotras | destacamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | destacasteis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | destacaron |
Past forms
Imperfect past
Use the imperfect for repeated or ongoing past uses of destacar, or for background information.
| Subject | Destacar |
|---|---|
| yo | destacaba |
| tú | destacabas |
| él / ella / usted | destacaba |
| nosotros / nosotras | destacábamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | destacabais |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | destacaban |
Conjugation guide
Future and conditional
Future and conditional
Simple future
Use the future forms of destacar for predictions, promises and future statements.
| Subject | Destacar |
|---|---|
| yo | destacaré |
| tú | destacarás |
| él / ella / usted | destacará |
| nosotros / nosotras | destacaremos |
| vosotros / vosotras | destacaréis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | destacarán |
Verified context
Examples with destacar
Ella destaca en conversación inglesa.
She is good at speaking English.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRTu colorida camisa verdaderamente destaca.
Your colorful shirt really stands out.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRÉl destaca entre los pintores de su tiempo.
He stands out among the painters of his time.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Quick answers
Destacar FAQ
What does destacar mean?
Destacar means to emphasize, to highlight, to stress, to point out, to single out, to underline, to underscore, to bring out, to note.
Is destacar regular or irregular?
Destacar is a irregular -AR verb.
What is the gerund of destacar?
The gerund of destacar is destacando.
What is the past participle of destacar?
The past participle of destacar is destacado.
How is destacar conjugated in the present?
The verified public subject set is destaco, destacas, destaca, destacamos, destacan.
How is destacar conjugated in the preterite?
The verified public subject set is destaqué, destacaste, destacó, destacamos, destacaron.
Created by Alejandro Ruiz, an experienced Spanish tutor.