rotular

Rotular is a verb in Spanish and Portuguese meaning to label or to affix a label to something, in order to identify, describe, or categorize it. The term is used in contexts ranging from product packaging and inventory to documents and signage. It can also be employed more broadly to mean naming or captioning something, such as labeling a file or a section of a text. In some contexts, rotular can carry figurative implications, as in assigning a label or stereotype to a person or idea, though such usage can be pejorative depending on tone and context.

Etymology: The word is rooted in Latin sources connected with lists or rolls, such as rotulus, and has evolved in Romance languages to denote the act of placing a label or caption. In Spanish and Portuguese, rotular shares cognates and related forms that reflect labeling, labeling practices, and related crafts.

Usage notes: In manufacturing, retail, libraries, and archives, rotular describes the practical act of applying printed or handwritten labels to items or containers. The related noun rotulación refers to the labeling process or the collection of labels itself. Related terms include rotulador (a marker or label printer) and rotulista (a person who creates signs or labels). While commonly used in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking contexts, rotular is less familiar in everyday English and is usually encountered in discussions involving these languages or in technical or regional texts.

See also: labeling, etiquetado, rotulación, rotulador, rotulista, sign painting.