identificar

to identify

verb ee-den-tee-fee-KAHR Less Common

Origin: From Medieval Latin identificare, from idem ('same') + facere ('to make').

Usage Note

Identificar takes a direct object (identificar el problema) or the reflexive identificarse con to mean 'to identify with' someone or something emotionally. The preterite spelling changes to identifiqué (first person singular) to preserve the hard 'k' sound before -é. The noun identificación is also the common word for an ID document.

Examples

"La policía identificó al sospechoso."

Natural Translation

The police identified the suspect.

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