distinguiste

Distinguiste is a form that appears in discussions of Spanish verb conjugation but is not considered a standard form in contemporary usage. In modern Spanish, the correct second-person singular preterite (pretérito indefinido) of distinguir is distinguiste. The spelling distinguiste is generally viewed as a misspelling or nonstandard variant, and it is not listed as an accepted form in major dictionaries such as the Real Academia Española.

Distinguir, meaning to distinguish or tell apart, comes from Latin distinguere. In its standard preterite, the tú form is distinguiste, with the stem distinguished as distingu- and the usual preterite ending -iste. Other forms follow the regular preterite paradigm: distinguó for él/ella, distinguimos for nosotros, distinguisteis for vosotros, and distingueron for ellos/ellas (with the appropriate orthographic adjustments). The pronunciation of distinguishing forms places the stress on the penultimate syllable in many regions.

Usage notes: distinguishing past actions is common in narrative and descriptive contexts. While learners may encounter unfamiliar spellings, it is important to rely on the standard form distinguiste for tú in the preterite.

See also: distinguir, preterite conjugation, Spanish orthography, Real Academia Española.