evocar
“evocar” means “to evoke” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to evoke
Also: to call to mind, to bring back
📝 In Action
El olor del pan recién horneado suele evocar recuerdos de mi infancia.
B2The smell of freshly baked bread often evokes memories of my childhood.
Su estilo de pintura intenta evocar la soledad de la gran ciudad.
B2His painting style tries to evoke the loneliness of the big city.
Esta música me evoca mis años de universidad.
C1This music brings back my university years.
to summon
Also: to conjure
📝 In Action
En la novela, el mago intentó evocar a los espíritus de sus ancestros.
C2In the novel, the wizard tried to summon the spirits of his ancestors.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "evocar" in Spanish:
to conjure→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: evocar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence uses 'evocar' correctly to talk about a memory?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'evocare', formed by 'ex-' (out) and 'vocare' (to call). Literally meaning 'to call out' or 'to call forth'.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'evocar' the same as 'recordar'?
Not exactly. 'Recordar' is the general word for 'to remember'. 'Evocar' is more poetic and is usually used when a specific thing (a smell, sound, or image) triggers a memory or a feeling.
Why does the spelling change in 'evoqué'?
In Spanish, a 'c' followed by an 'e' makes a soft 's' or 'th' sound. To keep the original hard 'k' sound from 'evocar', we change the 'c' to 'qu' before an 'e'.
Can I use 'evocar' for everyday things like remembering my keys?
No, that would sound very strange! For everyday facts or objects, use 'recordar' or 'acordarse de'. Use 'evocar' for feelings, history, or art.