distinguen

Distinguen is the third-person plural present indicative form of the Spanish verb distinguir, meaning "they distinguish" or, with ustedes as the subject, "you (plural) distinguish." It is used with subjects such as ellos, ellas, or ustedes.

Etymology and related forms: The verb distinguir comes from Latin distinguere, a combination of dis- meaning apart and stinguere meaning to separate or distinguish. In modern Spanish, distinguir is part of the -uir verb pattern and shows typical present-tense forms such as distingo, distingues, distingue, distinguimos, distinguís, distinguen.

Usage and meaning: Distinguen conveys the act of perceiving differences between objects, ideas, people, or phenomena, or of classifying items according to distinguishing features. It can be used in scientific, academic, legal, or everyday contexts. For example: "Los científicos distinguen entre correlación y causalidad." "La marca se distingue por su diseño único." "Es importante distinguir entre hechos y opiniones."

Grammar notes: Distinguen is the present indicative form used with third-person plural subjects (ellos, ellas, ustedes). The verb distinguir is irregular in some tenses, but distinguishing forms in the present tense align with standard -ir verbs in the present indicative, with the typical endings: distingo, distingues, distingue, distinguimos, distinguís, distinguen.

See also: Distinguir, distinction, discrimination.