señale

Señale is a form of the Spanish verb señalar, which means to point out or to indicate. It is most commonly encountered as a present subjunctive form and, in formal address, as a polite imperative. The word reflects the core sense of giving a sign or indicating something to others.

In grammar, señalar is a regular -ar verb, and its present subjunctive forms are: yo señale, tú señales, él/ella/Ud. señale, nosotros señalemos, vosotros señaléis, ellos/ellas/Uds. señalen. Therefore, the form señale can appear in two closely related ways: as first-person singular present subjunctive (que yo señale) and as third-person singular present subjunctive for él/ella/Ud. (que él/ella/Ud. señale). This form is used in subordinate clauses after verbs or expressions that trigger the subjunctive, such as deseo, duda, necesidad, o emoción, e.g., Es importante que me señale el camino, Quiero que señale el punto. In formal imperative constructions directed to a single person, usted, the present subjunctive is used, so Señale usted el camino is a polite instruction.

Etymologically, señale derives from la raíz de señal, meaning a sign or mark, which itself comes from Latin signālis combined with the infinitive suffix -ar to form the verb señalar. Related terms include señal (sign, signal) and señalamiento (signposting or pointing out).

Señale is thus primarily a grammatical form rather than a standalone lexical entry, but it is essential for constructing subordinate clauses and formal commands in Spanish.