significar
mean
Indica lo que algo quiere decir o expresar.
Definition & meaning
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To mean or to signify: to express or represent an idea.
- ¿Qué significa esta palabra? — What does this word mean?
- Una luz roja significa peligro. — A red light means danger.
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To entail or to imply: to involve a particular consequence.
- El cambio significa más trabajo. — The change means more work.
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To matter: to have importance for someone.
- Su amistad significa mucho para mí. — Their friendship means a lot to me.
Grammar & Word origin
Significar is a regular -ar verb. It comes from Latin significare, formed from signum (“sign”) and facere (“to make”).
It can take a noun or a clause as its object: significar algo or significar que….
Synonyms & antonyms
- querer decir — “to mean”; especially common when explaining the meaning of words or statements.
- representar — “to represent”; emphasizes standing for something.
- implicar — “to imply” or “to entail”; emphasizes a consequence or connection.
- importar — “to matter”; relates to the sense of having importance.
There is no single direct antonym that covers all senses of significar.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
No sé exactamente qué significa este símbolo.verb
I don't know exactly what this symbol means.
Para ella, esa palabra significa mucho.verb
For her, that word means a lot.
Nos explicó qué significa la frase.verb
He explained to us what the phrase means.
¿Sabes qué significa este símbolo en el mapa?verb
Do you know what this symbol on the map means?
Esa palabra significa mucho en nuestra cultura.verb
That word means a lot in our culture.
No entiendo qué significa esta frase.verb
I don't understand what this sentence means.
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