Verb

unterscheiden

Translation

to distinguish, to differentiate, to tell apart, to differ

Ich kann die Zwillinge nicht unterscheiden.

I can't tell the twins apart.

Man muss zwischen Gut und Böse unterscheiden.

One must distinguish between good and evil.

Die Brüder unterscheiden sich sehr.

The brothers differ greatly.

((sth.)) from ((sth.)) to distinguish sth. from sth. One must distinguish facts from opinions.

between ((sth.)) to distinguish between sth. We distinguish between two types.

sich von+3 to differ from sb./sth. He differs from his brother.

sich in+3 to differ in sth. They differ in character.

Synonyms: differenzieren, auseinanderhalten; Antonyms: verwechseln (to confuse), gleichsetzen (to equate)

From `unter-` (among, between) + `scheiden` (to separate). Literally 'to separate between'.

Imagine standing 'under' a line and 'siding' (scheiden) with one group or another, thus distinguishing them.