significa

Significa is a verb form used in both Spanish and Portuguese. In either language, significa is the third-person singular present indicative of significar and translates roughly as "it means" or "signifies." It is commonly used to express the meaning of a word, phrase, or concept, and appears in definitions, explanations, and clarifications. In Spanish, it is used with subjects such as la palabra or esto, as in “La palabra 'árbol' significa 'tree'.” In Portuguese, it functions similarly with ele, ela, or você, as in “A palavra 'casa' significa 'home'.”

Etymology and related forms: Significa originates from the Latin significare, formed from signum meaning “sign” combined with a suffix related to making or doing, conveying the sense of “to make a sign” or “to indicate.” The verb significar (to signify) gives rise to related forms in both languages, including significado (noun: meaning) and significativo (adjective: significant). These related terms help distinguish the act of signifying from the concept of meaning itself.

Usage and context: In definitions and linguistic discussion, significa is used to assign meaning to linguistic units or symbols. It is not used to convey opinion or emotion; rather, it introduces or clarifies what a word or expression represents. In English-language contexts, the equivalent verb is to signify or to mean.

See also: significar, significado, semántica, lingüística.