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Spanish · Verb · #373 most common

significar

to mean
to signify

Regular-ar ending

In the tables below, the stem is shown in black and the ending in purple.

1.

Presente

Habitual actions, general truths, and what's happening now.

yosignifico
significas
él/ellasignifica
nosotrossignificamos
vosotrossignificáis
ellos/ellassignifican

Esta palabra significa amor.

This word means love.

¿Qué significa este símbolo?

What does this symbol mean?

2.

Pretérito Indefinido

Completed actions at a specific point in the past.

yosignifiqué
significaste
él/ellasignificó
nosotrossignificamos
vosotrossignificasteis
ellos/ellassignificaron

Ayer, el profesor explicó lo que significó la historia.

Yesterday, the teacher explained what the story meant.

El resultado significó un gran cambio para todos.

The result meant a big change for everyone.

3.

Imperfecto

Ongoing or repeated actions in the past, descriptions, and background context.

yosignificaba
significabas
él/ellasignificaba
nosotrossignificábamos
vosotrossignificabais
ellos/ellassignificaban

Cuando era niño, no sabía lo que significaba la amistad.

When I was a child, I didn't know what friendship meant.

Ella siempre decía que el éxito significaba trabajar duro.

She always said that success meant working hard.

4.

Futuro Simple

Future actions, predictions, and speculation about the present.

yosignificaré
significarás
él/ellasignificará
nosotrossignificaremos
vosotrossignificaréis
ellos/ellassignificarán

Mañana, aprenderemos lo que significa esta frase.

Tomorrow, we will learn what this phrase means.

Ese gesto significará mucho para él.

That gesture will mean a lot to him.

5.

Condicional

Hypothetical situations, polite requests, and future-in-the-past.

yosignificaría
significarías
él/ellasignificaría
nosotrossignificaríamos
vosotrossignificaríais
ellos/ellassignificarían

Si supieras el contexto, significaría algo diferente.

If you knew the context, it would mean something different.

Para mí, eso significaría una gran oportunidad.

For me, that would mean a great opportunity.

6.

Subjuntivo Presente

Wishes, doubts, emotions, and subordinate clauses expressing uncertainty.

yosignifique
signifiques
él/ellasignifique
nosotrossignifiquemos
vosotrossignifiquéis
ellos/ellassignifiquen

Es importante que entiendas lo que significa esta palabra.

It's important that you understand what this word means.

Espero que esto signifique un nuevo comienzo.

I hope that this means a new beginning.

7.

Subjuntivo Imperfecto

Past subjunctive contexts, hypothetical si-clauses, and polite suggestions.

yosignificara
significaras
él/ellasignificara
nosotrossignificáramos
vosotrossignificarais
ellos/ellassignificaran

Si supieras lo que significara, cambiarías de opinión.

If you knew what it meant, you would change your mind.

Ojalá que eso significara algo positivo.

I wish that would mean something positive.

"significar" in other languages

Related verbs

Common questions
Is "significar" regular or irregular in Spanish?
"significar" is a regular -ar verb in Spanish. It follows the standard conjugation pattern for -ar verbs.
How do you conjugate "significar" in the present tense?
In the Presente, "significar" conjugates as: significas, significo, significan, and more. See the full table above.
What is the past tense of "significar" in Spanish?
In the Pretérito Indefinido, "significar" conjugates as: significaste, signifiqué, significaron, and more. See the full table above.
How common is "significar" in Spanish?
"significar" (to mean, to signify) is one of the most commonly used verbs in Spanish.