Distingo

Distingo is a term encountered in Latin and several Romance languages, where it functions as a present-tense form of verbs meaning to distinguish or tell apart. In classical Latin, the verb is distinguō (to distinguish, separate, or differentiate). The form distingo appears in Latin dictionaries and texts as the first-person present indicative in some transliteration and spelling traditions, reflecting the same core meaning.

In Romance languages, distingo is a common first-person present indicative form meaning “I distinguish.” In Spanish, yo distingo means “I distinguish.” In Portuguese, eu distingo serves the same purpose. In these languages, the verb is used to identify differences between objects, ideas, or categories, and can appear in contexts ranging from everyday observation to formal argumentation.

Etymology generally traces distingo to the Latin distinguere, a compound of dis- (apart) and tingere (to color, to touch), conveying the sense of separating or marking difference. The term thus carries a core semantic field centered on recognizing and marking distinctions.

Usage notes:

- Distingo can take direct objects (distingo dos colores) or constructions that express distinction between items (distingo entre A y B).

- It contributes to related forms across tenses and moods in each language, and its exact spelling and pronunciation vary by language and orthography.

See also:

- Distinguere, distinguer, distinguo (related verbs in various Romance languages)

- Distinction (concept of difference and differentiation)