detectar
verbCEFR B2
What does “detectar” mean in English?
to detect, to identify
to detect, to identify (to spot a problem, signal, or fault; detectar un fallo / una anomalía)
Example sentences
Los sensores instalados en la planta detectaron un fallo en el sistema de refrigeración antes de que se produjera el accidente.
The sensors installed in the plant detected a fault in the cooling system before the accident occurred.
El médico detectó signos tempranos de la enfermedad gracias a una revisión rutinaria.
The doctor detected early signs of the illness thanks to a routine check-up.
Los algoritmos de la plataforma detectan comportamientos fraudulentos en tiempo real.
The platform's algorithms detect fraudulent behaviour in real time.
How to use it
Detectar means 'to detect' or 'to identify' — noticing or instrumentally registering the presence of something. Common with technical objects: detectar un fallo, una anomalía, una señal. Unlike descubrir (discover, often by chance or investigation), detectar implies systematic monitoring or measurement.
Common mistake
Detectar is typically used with inanimate objects: faults, signals, patterns, symptoms. With people, use localizar (locate) or identificar (identify). Detectar vs. descubrir: detectar implies monitoring systems or trained eyes; descubrir is broader and can be incidental. No personal a: detectar un fallo (not *detectar a un fallo).