Significáis

Significáis is the second-person plural present indicative form of the Spanish verb significar. It is used when addressing multiple people informally in Spain, corresponding to the vosotros form. The meaning depends on context and can be translated as “you all mean” or “you all signify.”

Morphology: significáis is formed from the stem signific- plus the regular -áis ending of -ar verbs in the vosotros form. The full present indicative paradigm for significar is: yo significo, tú significas, él/ella/Ud. significa, nosotros significamos, vosotros significáis, ellos/ellas/Uds. significan. The form is regular and predictable for learners of Spanish, and it appears primarily in regions that use vosotros.

Usage and meanings: significar has several senses: to mean (a word or sentence), to signify or indicate, and to be of importance. It can also mean to symbolize in certain contexts. Examples: ¿Qué significáis con esa expresión? (What do you mean by that expression?) Significáis un avance para el equipo. In Spanish from Latin America, vosotros forms are less common; speakers there typically use ustedes significan or alternate constructions.

Etymology: the verb derives from Latin significare, from signum “mark, sign” plus -ficare, a formative meaning “to make” or “to do.” The sense evolved to include “to indicate” or “to mean” in many Romance languages, including Spanish.

See also: Significado, Significar.