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"Mean" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "significar", and "signify" is a transitive verb which is also often translated as "significar". Learn more about the difference between "mean" and "signify" below.
mean(
min
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to signify)
a. querer decir
What did you mean when you said you didn't think this was working?¿Qué quisiste decir cuando dijiste que esto no está funcionando?
3. (to imply)
a. referirse
When I said I didn't want to talk to anybody, I didn't mean you.Cuando dije que no quería hablar con nadie, no me refería a ti.
4. (to intend)
a. tener la intención de
I didn't mean to say the things that I said. I'm sorry.No tuve la intención de decir lo que dije. Lo siento.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I can't imagine life without you. You mean the world to me.No me imagino vivir sin ti. Lo eres todo para mí.
Money doesn't mean anything to Rose. She'd rather have love.El dinero no es importante para Rose. Preferiría el amor.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
7. (nasty)
8. (miserly)
9. (average)
a. medio
Find the mean number of girls born in families with six children.Encuentra el número medio de niñas nacidas en familias con seis hijos.
10. (colloquial) (excellent) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
a. increíble
I can make you a mean lemonade if you hang on a sec.Te puedo preparar una limonada increíble si me esperas tantito.
means
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
11. (method)
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
12. (reasons)
a. los medios (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).
The means are justified if we consider all options.Los medios están justificados si consideramos todas las opciones.
13. (wealth)
a. los recursos (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).
The thief lacks the means to pay a good lawyer.El ladrón no tiene los recursos para pagar un buen abogado.
b. los medios (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).
Not everyone has the means to pursue higher education.No todo el mundo tiene los medios para proseguir los estudios superiores.
signify(
sihg
-
nih
-
fay
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to mean)
a. significar
Dressing in black doesn't always signify that somebody has died.Vestirse de negro no siempre significa que alguien ha muerto.
b. querer decir
The wording is very vague. This could signify a lot of things.El enunciado es muy impreciso, podría querer decir muchas cosas.
a. indicar
The farm uses this label to signify that all of their products are organic.La granja usa esta etiqueta para indicar que todos sus productos son ecológicos.
a. suponer
The new job they've given you will signify a big change in your routine.El nuevo trabajo que te han dado supondrá un cambio importante en tu rutina.
b. representar
The senator's speech yesterday signifies a new direction in government policy.El discurso que dio ayer el senador respresenta un nuevo rumbo en la política del gobierno.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
4. (to matter)
a. tener importancia
In relation to the changes that actually need to be made, this discussion doesn't signify.En relación con los cambios que se tienen que hacer, esta discusión no tiene importancia.
