distinguere
to distinguish
verb dee-STEEN-gweh-reh Less Common
Origin: Latin distinguere (to separate by pricking)
Also means
to tell apart
Usage Note
Distinguere is irregular: past participle distinto. The reflexive distinguersi means to stand out or excel: si è distinto per il suo coraggio (he stood out for his courage). Distinto also lives on as the adjective 'distinguished' and in the formal letter closing distinti saluti (kind regards).
Examples
"È difficile distinguere i due gemelli."
Natural Translation
It is difficult to tell the two twins apart.
Related Words
Explore Italian by topic