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"Distinction" is a noun which is often translated as "la distinción", and "merit" is a noun which is often translated as "el mérito". Learn more about the difference between "distinction" and "merit" below.
distinction(
dihs
-
dihngk
-
shihn
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (difference)
a. la distinción (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
There's a fine distinction between flattery and praise.Hay una distinción sutil entre la adulación y el elogio.
b. la diferencia (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Can you explain the distinction between alligators and crocodiles?¿Puedes explicar la diferencia entre los caimanes y los cocodrilos?
2. (excellence)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Our dean is certainly a man of distinction.Nuestro decano es sin duda un hombre distinguido.
The biologist became a scholar of distinction within her field. La bióloga llegó a ser una académica destacada dentro de su área.
b. la distinción (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Tolstoy is a writer of distinction.Tolstói es un escritor de distinción.
merit(
meh
-
riht
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (worth)
a. el mérito (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Instead of working for his father's company, Eloy preferred to succeed by his own merit.En vez de trabajar para la empresa de su padre, Eloy prefirió buscar el éxito por su propio mérito.
2. (quality)
a. la ventaja (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Though being self-employed has its challenges, it also has its merits.Aunque trabajar por tu propia cuenta tiene sus desafíos, también tiene sus ventajas.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. merecer
The detective thought the strange coincidence merited further investigation.El detective pensó que la extraña coincidencia merecía más investigación.
b. ser digno de
Julie's inappropriate behavior merits immediate disciplinary action.El comportamiento inapropiado de Julie es digno de acción disciplinaria inmediata.
c. ameritar (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
As mean as it was, I don't think what Barbara said merited that extreme a response.Por ofensivo que fuera, no creo que lo que dijo Bárbara ameritara una respuesta tan extrema.
