Meaning
It is important to highlight or mention a particular point.
Cultural Background
In Spanish academic circles, 'Cabe destacar' is almost mandatory in the introduction of a thesis to signal the 'estado de la cuestión' (state of the art). In Mexican political discourse, this phrase is often used by officials to highlight government achievements during the 'Mañaneras' (daily press conferences). Argentine journalists often use this phrase to introduce a 'pero' (but) or a counter-argument in opinion pieces. This is a standard phrase in UN documents translated into Spanish to ensure a neutral, highly formal tone.
The 'DELE' Secret
Using this phrase in the writing section of the DELE B2/C1 exam automatically boosts your 'cohesion' and 'register' scores.
The 'De' Trap
Never say 'Cabe de destacar'. It is the most common mistake for both students and native speakers.
Meaning
It is important to highlight or mention a particular point.
The 'DELE' Secret
Using this phrase in the writing section of the DELE B2/C1 exam automatically boosts your 'cohesion' and 'register' scores.
The 'De' Trap
Never say 'Cabe de destacar'. It is the most common mistake for both students and native speakers.
Formal vs. Informal
If you use this with your friends, they might think you're giving a speech. Stick to 'Hay que decir' for beer and pizza talk.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the phrase (no prepositions!).
________ destacar que la reunión ha sido pospuesta para el lunes.
The phrase is 'Cabe destacar que'. No 'de' is needed, and it is always singular.
Which of these sentences is most appropriate for a formal academic essay?
Choose the best option:
This option uses the correct formal register and vocabulary ('deficiente' instead of 'sucia' or 'mal').
Match the Spanish phrase with its English equivalent.
Match them up:
These are the standard formal equivalents.
Complete the interview dialogue.
Entrevistador: ¿Tiene alguna otra habilidad? Candidato: Sí, ________ que tengo un máster en finanzas.
The candidate is highlighting a key qualification in a formal setting.
In which situation is 'Cabe destacar que' MOST appropriate?
Select the situation:
It is a formal discourse marker for professional or official communication.
🎉 Score: /5
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
5 exercises________ destacar que la reunión ha sido pospuesta para el lunes.
The phrase is 'Cabe destacar que'. No 'de' is needed, and it is always singular.
Choose the best option:
This option uses the correct formal register and vocabulary ('deficiente' instead of 'sucia' or 'mal').
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are the standard formal equivalents.
Entrevistador: ¿Tiene alguna otra habilidad? Candidato: Sí, ________ que tengo un máster en finanzas.
The candidate is highlighting a key qualification in a formal setting.
Select the situation:
It is a formal discourse marker for professional or official communication.
🎉 Score: /5
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, but it is for formal speech. You'll hear it in presentations, news, and speeches, but rarely in a kitchen or a bar.
Yes! Even if you have 10 points, you still say 'Cabe destacar que...'. The verb remains singular.
'Destacar' is stronger (to highlight/make stand out), while 'señalar' is more neutral (to point out).
Because it's a conjugated impersonal verb. It's like saying 'It fits to highlight'.
Yes, it is universally understood and used in all Spanish-speaking countries in formal contexts.
Yes, 'resaltar' is a perfect synonym for 'destacar'.
No. Since you are stating a fact that you want to highlight, you use the indicative.
It is 'Cabe destacar que'. Adding 'de' is a mistake called 'dequeísmo'.
You could say 'Vale la pena decir que' or simply 'Por cierto...'.
No, it is a connector that introduces a new clause, so it must be followed by the information you are highlighting.
Related Phrases
Cabe señalar que
synonymIt should be pointed out that
Cabe subrayar que
synonymIt should be emphasized that
Es de resaltar que
similarIt is to be highlighted that
No cabe duda de que
builds onThere is no doubt that
