discernir

Catalan

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin discernere (“to separate, divide, distinguish, discern”), with normal change of conjugation to -ir.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Northern, Balearic, Central) [di.sərˈni]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [di.seɾˈniɾ]
• IPA^(key): (Northwestern) [di.serˈni]

Verb

discernir (first-person singular present discerneixo, first-person singular preterite discerní, past participle discernit)

1. (transitive) to distinguish, discern

Conjugation

    Central Catalan conjugation of discernir (third conjugation, with -eix-)

infinitive			discernir
gerund			discernint
past participle				masculine		feminine
		singular		discernit		discernida
		plural		discernits		discernides
person		singular			plural
		first	second	third	first	second	third
indicative		jo	tu	ell/ella vostè	nosaltres nós	vosaltres vós	ells/elles vostès
	present	discerneixo	discerneixes	discerneix	discernim	discerniu	discerneixen
	imperfect	discernia	discernies	discernia	discerníem	discerníeu	discernien
	future	discerniré	discerniràs	discernirà	discernirem	discernireu	discerniran
	preterite	discerní	discernires	discerní	discernírem	discerníreu	discerniren
	conditional	discerniria	discerniries	discerniria	discerniríem	discerniríeu	discernirien
subjunctive		jo	tu	ell/ella vostè	nosaltres nós	vosaltres vós	ells/elles vostès
	present	discerneixi	discerneixis	discerneixi	discernim	discerniu	discerneixin
	imperfect	discernís	discernissis	discernís	discerníssim	discerníssiu	discernissin
imperative		—	tu	vostè	nosaltres	vosaltres vós	vostès
	affirmative	—	discerneix	discerneixi	discernim	discerniu	discerneixin
	negative (no)	—	no discerneixis	no discerneixi	no discernim	no discerniu	no discerneixin

Derived terms

• discernible
• discernidor
• discerniment

Related terms

• cernir
• discreció
• discret

Further reading

• “discernir”, in Diccionari de la llengua catalana [Dictionary of the Catalan Language] (in Catalan), second edition, Institute of Catalan Studies [Catalan: Institut d'Estudis Catalans], April 2007

Galician

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin discernere (“to separate, divide, distinguish, discern”), from dis- (“apart”) + cernere (“to separate”), from Proto-Indo-European *krey-.

Verb

discernir (first-person singular present discirno, third-person singular present discirne, first-person singular preterite discernín, past participle discernido)
discernir (first-person singular present discirno, third-person singular present discerne, first-person singular preterite discernim or discerni, past participle discernido, reintegrationist norm)

1. to distinguish, discern

Conjugation

    Conjugation of discernir (e becomes i when stressed)

	Singular			Plural
	First-person (eu)	Second-person (ti)	Third-person (el / ela / Vde.)	First-person (nós)	Second-person (vós)	Third-person (eles / elas / Vdes.)
Infinitive
Impersonal	discernir
Personal	discernir	discernires	discernir	discernirmos	discernirdes	discerniren
Gerund
	discernindo
Past participle
Masculine	discernido			discernidos
Feminine	discernida			discernidas
Indicative
Present	discirno	discirnes	discirne	discernimos	discernides	discirnen
Imperfect	discernía	discernías	discernía	discerniamos	discerniades	discernían
Preterite	discernín	discerniches	discerniu	discernimos	discernistes	discerniron
Pluperfect	discernira	discerniras	discernira	discerniramos	discernirades	discerniran
Future	discernirei	discernirás	discernirá	discerniremos	discerniredes	discernirán
Conditional	discerniría	discernirías	discerniría	discerniriamos	discerniriades	discernirían
Subjunctive
Present	discirna	discirnas	discirna	discirnamos	discirnades	discirnan
Imperfect	discernise	discernises	discernise	discernísemos	discernísedes	discernisen
Future	discernir	discernires	discernir	discernirmos	discernirdes	discerniren
Imperative
Affirmative		discirne	discirna	discirnamos	discernide	discirnan
Negative (non)		non discirnas	non discirna	non discirnamos	non discirnades	non discirnan

    Reintegrated conjugation of discernir (i-e alternation in present singular) (See Appendix:Reintegrationism)

	Singular			Plural
	First-person (eu)	Second-person (ti / tu)	Third-person (ele / ela / você)	First-person (nós)	Second-person (vós)	Third-person (eles / elas / vocês)
Infinitive
Impersonal	discernir
Personal	discernir	discernires	discernir	discernirmos	discernirdes	discernirem
Gerund
	discernindo
Past participle
Masculine	discernido			discernidos
Feminine	discernida			discernidas
Indicative
Present	discirno	discernes	discerne	discernimos	discernides, discernis	discernem
Imperfect	discernia	discernias	discernia	discerníamos	discerníades, discerníeis, discerníais1	discerniam
Preterite	discernim, discerni	discerniste, discerniche1	discerniu	discernimos	discernistes	discernírom, discerniram
Pluperfect	discernira	discerniras	discernira	discerníramos	discernírades, discerníreis, discernírais1	discerniram
Future	discernirei	discernirás	discernirá	discerniremos	discerniredes, discernireis	discernirám, discernirão
Conditional	discerniria	discernirias	discerniria	discerniríamos	discerniríades, discerniríeis, discerniríais1	discerniriam
Subjunctive
Present	discirna	discirnas	discirna	discirnamos	discirnades, discirnais	discirnam
Imperfect	discernisse	discernisses	discernisse	discerníssemos	discerníssedes, discernísseis	discernissem
Future	discernir	discernires	discernir	discernirmos	discernirdes	discernirem
Imperative
Affirmative		discerne	discirna	discirnamos	discernide, discerni	discirnam
Negative (nom)		nom discirnas	nom discirna	nom discirnamos	nom discirnades, nom discirnais	nom discirnam

¹Less recommended.

Related terms

• discernimento
• discerníbel
• concernir

Further reading

• “discernir”, in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega (in Galician), A Coruña: Royal Galician Academy, 2012–2026
• “discernir”, in Dicionário Estraviz de galego (in Galician), 2014–2026

Portuguese

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin discernere (“to separate, divide, distinguish, discern”), from dis- (“apart”) + cernere (“to separate”), from Proto-Indo-European *krey-.

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /d͡ʒi.seʁˈni(ʁ)/ [d͡ʒi.seɦˈni(h)]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /d͡ʒi.seʁˈni(ʁ)/ [d͡ʒi.seɦˈni(h)]
  • (São Paulo) IPA^(key): /d͡ʒi.seɾˈni(ɾ)/
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /d͡ʒi.seʁˈni(ʁ)/ [d͡ʒi.seʁˈni(χ)]
  • (Caipira) IPA^(key): /d͡ʒi.seɻˈni(ɻ)/

 

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): (careful) /diʃ.sɨɾˈniɾ/, /di.ʃɨɾˈniɾ/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): (careful) /diʃ.sɨɾˈniɾ/, /di.ʃɨɾˈniɾ/
  • (Southern Portugal) IPA^(key): (careful) /diʃ.sɨɾˈni.ɾi/, /di.ʃɨɾˈni.ɾi/

• Hyphenation: dis‧cer‧nir

Verb

discernir (first-person singular present discirno, third-person singular present discerne, first-person singular preterite discerni, past participle discernido)

1. to distinguish, discern

Conjugation

    Conjugation of discernir (i-e alternation in present singular) (See Appendix:Portuguese verbs)

	Singular			Plural
	First-person (eu)	Second-person (tu)	Third-person (ele / ela / você)	First-person (nós)	Second-person (vós)	Third-person (eles / elas / vocês)
Infinitive
Impersonal	discernir
Personal	discernir	discernires	discernir	discernirmos	discernirdes	discernirem
Gerund
	discernindo
Past participle
Masculine	discernido			discernidos
Feminine	discernida			discernidas
Indicative
Present	discirno	discernes	discerne	discernimos	discernis	discernem
Imperfect	discernia	discernias	discernia	discerníamos	discerníeis	discerniam
Preterite	discerni	discerniste	discerniu	discernimos	discernistes	discerniram
Pluperfect	discernira	discerniras	discernira	discerníramos	discerníreis	discerniram
Future	discernirei	discernirás	discernirá	discerniremos	discernireis	discernirão
Conditional	discerniria	discernirias	discerniria	discerniríamos	discerniríeis	discerniriam
Subjunctive
Present	discirna	discirnas	discirna	discirnamos	discirnais	discirnam
Imperfect	discernisse	discernisses	discernisse	discerníssemos	discernísseis	discernissem
Future	discernir	discernires	discernir	discernirmos	discernirdes	discernirem
Imperative
Affirmative		discerne	discirna	discirnamos	discerni	discirnam
Negative (não)		não discirnas	não discirna	não discirnamos	não discirnais	não discirnam

Related terms

• discreto
• discrição
• concernir
• cernir

References

• “discernir”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026
• “discernir”, in Dicionário Infopédia da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Porto: Porto Editora, 2003–2026
• “discernir”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026

Spanish

Alternative forms

• discerner (archaic)

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin discernere (“to separate, divide, distinguish, discern”), from dis- (“apart”) + cernere (“to separate”), from Proto-Indo-European *krey-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /disθeɾˈniɾ/ [d̪is.θeɾˈniɾ] (Equatorial Guinea, Spain)
• IPA^(key): /diseɾˈniɾ/ [d̪i.seɾˈniɾ] (Latin America, Philippines)
• Rhymes: -iɾ
• Syllabification: dis‧cer‧nir

Verb

discernir (first-person singular present discierno, first-person singular preterite discerní, past participle discernido)

1. to discern

   Synonym: adivinar

2. to distinguish

   Synonym: distinguir

Conjugation

    Conjugation of discernir (e-ie alternation) (See Appendix:Spanish verbs)

infinitive			discernir
gerund			discerniendo
past participle				masculine		feminine
		singular		discernido		discernida
		plural		discernidos		discernidas
		singular			plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
indicative		yo	tú vos	él/ella/ello usted	nosotros nosotras	vosotros vosotras	ellos/ellas ustedes
	present	discierno	disciernestú discernísvos	discierne	discernimos	discernís	disciernen
	imperfect	discernía	discernías	discernía	discerníamos	discerníais	discernían
	preterite	discerní	discerniste	discernió	discernimos	discernisteis	discernieron
	future	discerniré	discernirás	discernirá	discerniremos	discerniréis	discernirán
	conditional	discerniría	discernirías	discerniría	discerniríamos	discerniríais	discernirían
subjunctive		yo	tú vos	él/ella/ello usted	nosotros nosotras	vosotros vosotras	ellos/ellas ustedes
	present	discierna	disciernastú discernásvos2	discierna	discernamos	discernáis	disciernan
	imperfect (ra)	discerniera	discernieras	discerniera	discerniéramos	discernierais	discernieran
	imperfect (se)	discerniese	discernieses	discerniese	discerniésemos	discernieseis	discerniesen
	future1	discerniere	discernieres	discerniere	discerniéremos	discerniereis	discernieren
imperative		—	tú vos	usted	nosotros nosotras	vosotros vosotras	ustedes
	affirmative		disciernetú discernívos	discierna	discernamos	discernid	disciernan
	negative		no disciernas	no discierna	no discernamos	no discernáis	no disciernan

¹Rare; now chiefly used in legal language.
²Argentine and Uruguayan voseo prefers the tuteo-form for the present subjunctive.

    Selected combined forms of discernir (e-ie alternation)

These forms are generated automatically and may not actually be used. Pronoun usage varies by region.

		singular			plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
with infinitive discernir	dative	discernirme	discernirte	discernirle, discernirse	discernirnos	discerniros	discernirles, discernirse
	accusative	discernirme	discernirte	discernirlo, discernirla, discernirse	discernirnos	discerniros	discernirlos, discernirlas, discernirse
with gerund discerniendo	dative	discerniéndome	discerniéndote	discerniéndole, discerniéndose	discerniéndonos	discerniéndoos	discerniéndoles, discerniéndose
	accusative	discerniéndome	discerniéndote	discerniéndolo, discerniéndola, discerniéndose	discerniéndonos	discerniéndoos	discerniéndolos, discerniéndolas, discerniéndose
with informal second-person singular tuteo imperative discierne	dative	disciérneme	disciérnete	disciérnele	disciérnenos	not used	disciérneles
	accusative	disciérneme	disciérnete	disciérnelo, disciérnela	disciérnenos	not used	disciérnelos, disciérnelas
with informal second-person singular voseo imperative discerní	dative	discernime	discernite	discernile	discerninos	not used	discerniles
	accusative	discernime	discernite	discernilo, discernila	discerninos	not used	discernilos, discernilas
with formal second-person singular imperative discierna	dative	disciérname	not used	disciérnale, disciérnase	disciérnanos	not used	disciérnales
	accusative	disciérname	not used	disciérnalo, disciérnala, disciérnase	disciérnanos	not used	disciérnalos, disciérnalas
with first-person plural imperative discernamos	dative	not used	discernámoste	discernámosle	discernámonos	discernámoos	discernámosles
	accusative	not used	discernámoste	discernámoslo, discernámosla	discernámonos	discernámoos	discernámoslos, discernámoslas
with informal second-person plural imperative discernid	dative	discernidme	not used	discernidle	discernidnos	discerníos	discernidles
	accusative	discernidme	not used	discernidlo, discernidla	discernidnos	discerníos	discernidlos, discernidlas
with formal second-person plural imperative disciernan	dative	disciérnanme	not used	disciérnanle	disciérnannos	not used	disciérnanles, disciérnanse
	accusative	disciérnanme	not used	disciérnanlo, disciérnanla	disciérnannos	not used	disciérnanlos, disciérnanlas, disciérnanse

Derived terms

• discernimiento

Related terms

• cernir
• discreción
• discreto

Further reading

• “discernir”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025