Distinguir vs. divisar
While both distinguir and divisar can be translated as to make out or to discern in the sense of managing to see something, they are not interchangeable. Distinguir focuses on identifying or differentiating an object from its surroundings, often with difficulty, while divisar specifically emphasizes spotting something far away in the distance.
Distinguir
B1Distinguir means to perceive something by separating it from its background or from other similar things. It implies a process of recognition and identification, often overcoming a challenge like darkness, fog, poor eyesight, or a cluttered environment. The focus is on recognizing *what* something is.
Con la niebla, apenas podía distinguir la silueta de los coches en la carretera.
(With the fog, I could barely make out the silhouette of the cars on the road.)
Desde mi asiento no distingo bien las letras en la pantalla.
(From my seat, I can't make out the letters on the screen well.)
En la oscuridad de la noche, distinguí una figura que se acercaba a la casa.
(In the darkness of the night, I made out a figure approaching the house.)
Su voz era tan baja que me costaba distinguir lo que decía.
(His voice was so low that I struggled to discern what he was saying.)
Entre toda la gente, logré distinguir a mi amiga por su abrigo rojo.
(Among all the people, I managed to make out my friend because of her red coat.)
Divisar
B2Divisar specifically means to see something in the far distance. The focus is purely on the act of spotting a remote object, often from a high vantage point or across a vast expanse like the sea. The object seen is typically vague and not seen in detail.
Desde la cima de la montaña, pudimos divisar el mar en el horizonte.
(From the top of the mountain, we could make out the sea on the horizon.)
El marinero en el puesto de vigía fue el primero en divisar tierra.
(The sailor in the crow's nest was the first to spot land.)
A lo lejos se divisaba el humo de una pequeña aldea.
(In the distance, the smoke from a small village could be made out.)
Incluso con los prismáticos, apenas se divisaba el castillo en la otra orilla del río.
(Even with binoculars, you could barely make out the castle on the other side of the river.)
Cuando el avión despegó, por la ventanilla todavía se podía divisar la ciudad.
(When the plane took off, you could still make out the city from the window.)
Summary
In summary, use distinguir when the challenge is to identify or separate something from its immediate context (e.g., in fog, darkness, or a crowd). Use divisar when the challenge is seeing something simply because it is very far away. If you see a shape in the fog and realize it's a person, you distingues a person. If you see a speck on the horizon and realize it's a ship, you divisas a ship.