señalar
verbCEFR B1
What does “señalar” mean in English?
1.to point at / to indicate
to point at / to indicate (physical gesture); to point out / to highlight (written or formal)
2.to point out, to note
to point out, to note (written register: el informe señala que…)
Example sentences
El guía turístico señaló el campanario con el dedo y explicó que era el edificio más antiguo del casco histórico.
The tourist guide pointed to the bell tower and explained that it was the oldest building in the historic centre.
El informe señala claramente que las emisiones han aumentado un quince por ciento en los últimos cinco años.
The report clearly points out that emissions have increased by fifteen per cent in the last five years.
No está bien señalar a las personas en público; es una costumbre que en muchos países se considera maleducada.
It is not right to point at people in public; it is a custom that in many countries is considered rude.
How to use it
Señalar means 'to point at', 'to indicate', or 'to point out'. As a physical gesture, it means pointing (señalar con el dedo = to point one's finger). More broadly, it means to indicate or highlight something in speech or writing: el informe señala que... (the report points out that...). It is a regular -ar verb. Note: pointing at people (señalar a alguien) can be considered rude in many cultures. The noun is la señal (signal, sign). Do not confuse with señalizar (to put up road signs) or indicar (more neutral 'to indicate' in formal contexts).
Common mistake
The physical gesture of pointing is señalar (or señalar con el dedo), not *apuntar (which means to aim/point a weapon or to note down). In academic or formal writing señala que is the standard way to attribute a point to a source: el estudio señala que... Do not confuse señal (noun, signal) with señalar (verb, point/indicate).