recetar

reh-seh-TAHR/reθeˈtaɾ/

“recetar” means “to prescribe” in Spanish (medical treatment or medicine).

to prescribe

Also: to order

VerbA2regular ar

General

A doctor in a white coat handing a small bottle of medicine to a patient.

gerundrecetando

past Participlerecetado

infinitiverecetar

📝 In Action

El doctor me recetó unas pastillas para la tos.

The doctor prescribed me some pills for my cough.

No debes tomar nada que no te haya recetado un profesional.

You shouldn't take anything that a professional hasn't prescribed for you.

El especialista le recetó reposo absoluto por dos semanas.

The specialist ordered absolute rest for him for two weeks.

Word Connections

Synonyms

prescribir (to prescribe (more formal))
ordenar (to order/command)

Common Collocations

recetar medicamentos – to prescribe medication
recetar antibióticos – to prescribe antibiotics
recetar reposo – to prescribe rest

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesrecetaran

yorecetara

túrecetaras

vosotrosrecetarais

nosotrosrecetáramos

él/ella/ustedrecetara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesreceten

yorecete

túrecetes

vosotrosrecetéis

nosotrosrecetemos

él/ella/ustedrecete

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesrecetaron

yoreceté

túrecetaste

vosotrosrecetasteis

nosotrosrecetamos

él/ella/ustedrecetó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesrecetaban

yorecetaba

túrecetabas

vosotrosrecetabais

nosotrosrecetábamos

él/ella/ustedrecetaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesrecetan

yoreceto

túrecetas

vosotrosrecetáis

nosotrosrecetamos

él/ella/ustedreceta

View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "recetar" in Spanish:

to order→to prescribe→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: recetar

Question 1 of 3

Which of these is a doctor most likely to do?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

receta(prescription or recipe) — Noun

recetario(collection of prescriptions or recipes) — Noun

recetado(prescribed) — Adjective

🎵 Rhymes▼

aceptar recetar cantar

📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'receptare' (to receive or take back). In medical history, it referred to the 'recipe' or instructions given to a pharmacist to take specific ingredients and mix them.

First recorded: 13th Century

Cognates (Related words)

English: receiptFrench: recette

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'receta' mean prescription or recipe?

Both! In Spanish, 'una receta' is what you follow to bake a cake AND what a doctor gives you for the pharmacy. However, the verb 'recetar' is almost exclusively used for medical prescriptions.

What is the difference between 'recetar' and 'prescribir'?

'Recetar' is more common in everyday talk. 'Prescribir' is more formal or technical, often used in legal or very serious medical contexts.

Is 'recetar' a regular verb?

Yes! It follows the standard pattern for -ar verbs in all tenses, making it very easy to conjugate.