significar que
/siɡnifikaɾ ke/from spelling rules
The English phrase "mean that" is translated into Spanish as significar que.
The phrase is used to convey a specific message or result from a particular fact or statement.
How does it change in a sentence?
Use significa que for "it means that" and significan que for "they mean that". The infinitive form significar que is used when the phrase follows another verb or is the subject of a sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
/siɡnifikaɾ ke/
Did you know?
- While significar means 'to mean', Spanish speakers often use the phrase querer decir (literally 'to want to say') to express the same idea in conversation.
- The word que in this phrase shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'who', both tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root *kʷ-.
- When significar is used to express a consequence or a result, it can sometimes be replaced by suponer que (to suppose that) in formal contexts.
Examples in context
- Quiero irme temprano, es decir, antes de las 6 p.m.I want to leave early, that is to say, before 6 p.m.
- No me gustan las películas de terror, o sea, las que dan mucho miedo.I don't like horror movies, in other words, the ones that are really scary.
- Eso significa que estamos listos.That means that we are ready.
- No puede significar que ella no quiera venir.It cannot mean that she does not want to come.
- ¿Eso puede significar que el proyecto es un éxito?Does that mean that the project is a success?
- Su silencio no debe significar que está de acuerdo.Her silence should not mean that she agrees.
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are discussing a late reply to a message.
- ElenaDaniel no ha respondido mi mensaje hoy.Daniel hasn't answered my message today.
- DanielEso no tiene que significar que esté enojado.That doesn't have to mean that he is angry.
- ElenaEs verdad, quizá esté muy ocupado.That's true, maybe he is very busy.
- DanielSeguro que sí, Elena.I'm sure he is, Elena.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries que, significar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
