Meaning
to distinguish, discern, discriminate
- to mark, indicate
In a sentence
Non riesco a distinguere le due voci.
I can't tell the two voices apart.
Hai distinto il tuo zaino con un adesivo?
Did you mark your backpack with a sticker?
Da lontano ho distinto subito Marco.
From far away, I recognized Marco right away.
Word forms (48)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| distinguere | infinitive |
| distinguiamo | indicative · present · plural · 1st person |
| distinguo | indicative · present · singular · 1st person |
| distinguete | indicative · present · plural · 2nd person |
| distingui | indicative · present · singular · 2nd person |
| distinguono | indicative · present · plural · 3rd person |
| distingue | indicative · present · singular · 3rd person |
| distinguevamo | indicative · imperfect · plural · 1st person |
| distinguevo | indicative · imperfect · singular · 1st person |
| distinguevate | indicative · imperfect · plural · 2nd person |
| distinguevi | indicative · imperfect · singular · 2nd person |
| distinguevano | indicative · imperfect · plural · 3rd person |
| distingueva | indicative · imperfect · singular · 3rd person |
| distinguemmo | indicative · past · plural · 1st person |
| distinsi | indicative · past · singular · 1st person |
| distingueste | indicative · past · plural · 2nd person |
| distinguesti | indicative · past · singular · 2nd person |
| distinsero | indicative · past · plural · 3rd person |
| distinse | indicative · past · singular · 3rd person |
| distingueremo | indicative · future · plural · 1st person |
| distinguerò | indicative · future · singular · 1st person |
| distinguerete | indicative · future · plural · 2nd person |
| distinguerai | indicative · future · singular · 2nd person |
| distingueranno | indicative · future · plural · 3rd person |
| distinguerà | indicative · future · singular · 3rd person |
| distinguiamo | subjunctive · present · plural · 1st person |
| distingua | subjunctive · present · singular · 1st person |
| distinguiate | subjunctive · present · plural · 2nd person |
| distingua | subjunctive · present · singular · 2nd person |
| distinguano | subjunctive · present · plural · 3rd person |
| distingua | subjunctive · present · singular · 3rd person |
| distinguessimo | subjunctive · imperfect · plural · 1st person |
| distinguessi | subjunctive · imperfect · singular · 1st person |
| distingueste | subjunctive · imperfect · plural · 2nd person |
| distinguessi | subjunctive · imperfect · singular · 2nd person |
| distinguessero | subjunctive · imperfect · plural · 3rd person |
| distinguesse | subjunctive · imperfect · singular · 3rd person |
| distingueremmo | conditional · present · plural · 1st person |
| distinguerei | conditional · present · singular · 1st person |
| distinguereste | conditional · present · plural · 2nd person |
| distingueresti | conditional · present · singular · 2nd person |
| distinguerebbero | conditional · present · plural · 3rd person |
| distinguerebbe | conditional · present · singular · 3rd person |
| distinguiamo | imperative · plural · 1st person |
| distinguete | imperative · plural · 2nd person |
| distingui | imperative · singular · 2nd person |
| distinguendo | gerund |
| distinto | past · participle |
Usage notes
- Use distinguere for telling things apart: distinguere A da B. For recognizing someone, prefer riconoscere.
- Common pattern: distinguere tra/fra due cose or distinguere una cosa dall'altra. Don't copy English with a direct object only.
- Reflexive distinguersi means to stand out or distinguish oneself, often in formal or professional contexts.
- past participle distinto