diferente

Diferente is an adjective used in Spanish and Portuguese to indicate that something is not the same as another thing. It denotes distinction, variation, or non-identity between objects, people, or situations. The term can describe characteristics, states, or conditions that set one item apart from another. In both languages, it is commonly followed by the preposition de, as in se aplica diferente de or diferente de los demás.

Etymology traces difer ente back to Latin differentem, via the Romance languages. It shares roots with related terms in several languages that express contrast or variation.

Morphology and agreement are straightforward in both Spanish and Portuguese. The singular form diferente is used for both masculine and feminine nouns, and the plural form is diferentes for all genders. This makes its inflection relatively simple compared with some adjectives that change more markedly for gender. In usage, different constructions exist to express degrees of difference, such as más diferente or more distinct, depending on the language and context.

In practice, difer ente is typically contrasted with synonyms like distinto or variado, depending on nuance. Diferente often emphasizes non-identity or a clear contrast, while distinto can highlight a qualitative distinction, and variado can stress variety. Both languages use different forms to express comparisons, emphasis, and specific types of difference within sentences.

See also: to study related concepts, consider differentiation, difference, distinto, and variado.