significare

to mean

verb see-nyee-fee-KAH-reh Common

Origin: Latin significare (to make a sign, indicate)

Also means

to signify

Usage Note

Significare is a regular -are verb used to ask or explain meaning. The question Cosa significa? ('What does it mean?') is one of the most useful phrases a learner can know. It takes an infinitive complement or a noun: significa andare via means 'it means going away'.

Examples

"Cosa significa questa parola?"

Natural Translation

What does this word mean?

Literal Translation

What means this word?

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