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discernir

to discern; to distinguish

verb dees-ser-NEER Rare
Mind & Emotions Mental States

Origin: From Latin discernere, 'to separate'.

Usage Note

Discernir is a stem-changing verb: in the stressed present forms the stem vowel e shifts to ie (yo discierno, tú disciernes, él discierne), while the infinitive and nosotros/vosotros forms keep e. It is more formal than distinguir and implies careful intellectual judgment rather than mere perception.

Examples

"Es difícil discernir la verdad de la mentira."

Natural Translation

It is difficult to discern truth from lies.

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