distribuir

Distribuir is a verb used in Spanish and Portuguese to indicate giving out, apportioning, or dispersing something among recipients, places, or uses. It encompasses actions such as distributing goods to customers, allocating resources, or spreading information or commodities. In everyday language it appears in contexts ranging from logistics and economics to social policy and statistics.

Etymology and related terms: Distribuir derives from Latin distributuere, meaning to separate, divide, or allocate. The noun distributions in both languages is distribucion (Spanish) or distribuição (Portuguese), and related terms include distribution, distribuidor (distributor), and distribuible (distributable).

Conjugation and usage notes: In Portuguese, distribuir is a regular -ir verb. Present tense forms include eu distribuo, tu distribuis, ele distribui, nós distribuímos, vós distribuís, eles distribuem. In Spanish, distribuir is a regular -uir verb with a spelling change in some forms; present tense forms include yo distribuyo, tú distribuyes, él distribuye, nosotros distribuimos, vosotros distribuís, ellos distribuyen. In both languages, the verb can be used transitively (distribuir algo a alguien) or intransitively in phrases like distribuirse, when referring to a distribution process rather than a direct object.

Common uses: In business and logistics, distribuir refers to delivering or routing products through a supply chain. In economics or public policy, it can describe the allocation of resources or income. In statistics or probability, one speaks of a distribution to denote how values are spread or assigned, while the noun distribución or distribuição denotes the arrangement itself.

See also: distribución, distribuição, distribuible, distributor.