What does distinguir mean?
distinguir means to distinguish, discern in English. It is a irregular -ir verb.
It can also be used with these related meanings: to differentiate, set apart; to make out, manage to see, hear etc.
Spanish verb guide
Distinguir Conjugation in Spanish
Learn distinguir, meaning to distinguish, discern, through verified forms and contextual examples.
irregular-irgerund: distinguiendoparticiple: distinguido
Principal forms of distinguir
- Infinitive
- distinguir
- Gerund
- distinguiendo
- Past participle
- distinguido
Distinguir conjugation table
Compare the present, preterite, imperfect, and future forms. Reflexive pronouns are included where the verb requires them.
| Pronoun | Present | Preterite | Imperfect | Future |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | distingo | distinguí | distinguía | distinguiré |
| tú | distingues | distinguiste | distinguías | distinguirás |
| él / ella / usted | distingue | distinguió | distinguía | distinguirá |
| nosotros/as | distinguimos | distinguimos | distinguíamos | distinguiremos |
| ellos/as / ustedes | distinguen | distinguieron | distinguían | distinguirán |
Pattern notes
- Its forms differ from a fully regular -ir pattern in the present.
Examples with distinguir
¿Cómo distinguimos lo correcto de lo incorrecto?How can we tell what's right and what's wrong?Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Él no distingue el bien del mal.He cannot tell right from wrong.Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
La distingue de un modo especial.He has a special regard for her.Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Practice prompts
- Conjugate distinguir for yo in the present.
- Use the preterite form for ella.
- Say the nosotros/as imperfect form.
- Write a short sentence in the future.
Practice distinguir online
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