B2⚡ Verbs
Italian word
distinguere
to distinguish, to tell apart, to stand out
Looks like
to distinguish
to recognise as different; to set apart
⚠️ The trap
Largely the same but 'distinguersi' (reflexive) = to stand out, to excel, to make a name for oneself — a meaning that surprises learners expecting only the 'tell apart' sense.
To say "to recognise as different; to set apart" in Italian:
distinguere is correct
"distinguere" in English means:
to distinguish, to tell apart, to stand out
Example
"Si distingue dagli altri per la sua creatività."
"She stands out from others for her creativity."
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