citar (una fuente / a alguien)
verbCEFR B2
What does “citar (una fuente / a alguien)” mean in English?
to cite, to quote
to cite, to quote (citar a alguien / citar una fuente — attributing words or data to a source)
Example sentences
El periodista citó a varias fuentes anónimas que confirmaban la existencia del plan secreto.
The journalist cited several anonymous sources who confirmed the existence of the secret plan.
La investigadora citó estudios previos que apoyaban sus conclusiones y señaló las limitaciones de su propia investigación.
The researcher cited previous studies that supported her conclusions and noted the limitations of her own research.
El abogado defensor citó jurisprudencia del Tribunal Europeo para respaldar su argumentación.
The defence lawyer cited European Court case law to support his argument.
How to use it
Citar (una fuente / a alguien) means 'to cite' or 'to quote' — attributing words, data, or claims to a source. In narrative and journalism: citar a alguien (quote someone), citar una fuente (cite a source), citar de memoria (quote from memory). In academic writing: citar la bibliografía (cite the bibliography). The noun la cita (quotation, citation) is closely linked. Contrast: mencionar (to mention — less formal than citar), señalar (to note/point out — without attribution), atribuir (to attribute — without necessarily quoting).
Common mistake
Citar in Spanish also means 'to make an appointment': 'me citaron para el martes' = I have an appointment for Tuesday. This is not the academic/journalistic sense. In the narrative-complexity context, citar always means 'to cite/quote'. The appointment sense uses the noun la cita (appointment) and the reflexive citarse con alguien (to arrange to meet someone).