señalan

Señalan is the third-person plural present indicative form of the Spanish verb señalar. It means to indicate, point out, or signal something, and it is commonly used with subjects such as los especialistas señalan (the specialists point out) or señalan que (they indicate that / it is noted that). The verb can also appear in reflexive or passive constructions, as in se señala that or en el informe se señalan diversos problemas, where it functions to report or emphasize information.

Etymology and meaning: señalar comes from señal, meaning signal or sign, which in turn derives from Latin signum. The core sense is to mark attention toward a person, fact, or issue, whether by pointing, citing, or highlighting.

Usage notes: In formal or journalistic writing, señalan que introduces reported conclusions or findings, e.g., "El estudio señala que la mayoría está de acuerdo," meaning the study notes that most agree. The construction with se can create an impersonal or passive nuance: "Señalan varios problemas" = several problems are pointed out. Common related expressions include señalar con el dedo (to point with the finger) and señalar una evidencia, una tendencia, o un riesgo.

Examples in common contexts: "El informe señala un incremento en los costos." "Los expertos señalan la necesidad de reformas estructurales." "La encuesta señala que la población apoya la medida." The verb is regular in conjugation, with the standard -ar endings: señalo, señalas, señala, señalamos, señaláis, señalan.