The English verb “to mean” has several different meanings in Spanish, depending on the context in which it is used. Here are some of the most common translations:
- Significar – to mean, to signify
- Querer decir – to mean, to want to say
- Tener como propósito – to have as a purpose, to intend
- Hacer referencia a – to refer to, to make reference to
- Implicar – to imply, to suggest
- Importar – to matter, to be important
- Dar a entender – to give to understand, to hint
- Tener la intención de – to have the intention of, to plan
Here are some examples of how these translations are used in sentences:
- El verbo “to mean” tiene varios significados en español. – The verb “to mean” has several meanings in Spanish.
- ¿Qué quieres decir con eso? – What do you mean by that?
- No tengo como propósito lastimarte. – I don’t intend to hurt you.
- Esta carta hace referencia a nuestra conversación telefónica. – This letter refers to our phone conversation.
- Sus palabras implican que está de acuerdo conmigo. – His words imply that he agrees with me.
- No importa lo que digas, no te creo. – No matter what you say, I don’t believe you.
- Me dio a entender que estaba interesado en mí. – He gave me to understand that he was interested in me.
- Tengo la intención de quedarme aquí por un tiempo. – I intend to stay here for a while.
In addition to these common translations, there are also a number of other ways to express the idea of “to mean” in Spanish, depending on the specific context. For example, the verb “decir” can be used to mean “to mean” in the sense of “to say something,” and the verb “entender” can be used to mean “to mean” in the sense of “to understand something.”
Here are some additional examples of how these other translations are used in sentences:
- ¿Qué dices con eso? – What do you mean by that?
- Entiendo que estás pasando por un momento difícil. – I understand that you are going through a difficult time.
- No sé qué quiere decir con eso. – I don’t know what he means by that.
- ¿Qué quieres decir con “amor”? – What do you mean by “love”?
- No entiendo lo que dices. – I don’t understand what you are saying.
By understanding the different ways to express the idea of “to mean” in Spanish, you can more effectively communicate your thoughts and ideas in Spanish.