French word

différencier

Pronunciation

IPA/difeʁɑ̃sje/

Meaning

  • verbdistinguish

Example

Il faut différencier le travail et la vie privée.

It is necessary to distinguish between work and private life.

Illustration for différencier (distinguish)

More examples

Il est difficile de différencier leurs voix au téléphone.

It is difficult to distinguish their voices on the phone.

Core concept

A spotlight picks out traits that set one thing apart from another.

Common phrases

  • différencier le vrai du faux

    distinguish truth from falsehood

  • différencier des couleurs similaires

    distinguish similar colors

Similar words

distinguer: To tell similar things apart by finding their differences.
comparer: To examine two or more things for similarities and differences.
confondre: To mistake separate things for being the same.
reconnaître: To identify something as previously seen or known.

Definition in French

Identifier les traits qui permettent de voir qu'un élément est distinct d'un autre et les signaler.

Word origin

Différencier comes from French différence, from Latin differentia, related to differre, meaning to differ or set apart.

Usage tips

  • The usual construction is différencier X de Y, while se différencier de Y means to stand apart from Y.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word