Skip to content

denotar

to denote, to indicate

verb deh-noh-TAHR Rare
Communication Language

Origin: From Latin denotare (to mark out, to signify).

Usage Note

Denotar means to indicate, signal, or be a sign of something — often used when a behavior or feature denotes a quality or state (eso denota confianza, that indicates confidence). In linguistics and semiotics it has the technical sense of denotation (literal meaning), contrasted with connotación. It is regularly conjugated (-ar) and tends to appear in formal or analytical writing.

Examples

"Su mirada denota tristeza."

Natural Translation

His gaze denotes sadness.

Free starter pack

Building your Spanish vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Explore Spanish by topic