Inklingo

recitar

reh-see-TAHR/re.si.ˈtaɾ/

recitar means to recite in Spanish (saying something aloud from memory).

to recite

Also: to read aloud
VerbB1regular ar
A child standing on a small wooden stage, looking upward with a hand on their chest as they speak with expression.
gerundrecitando
past Participlerecitado
infinitiverecitar

📝 In Action

El niño aprendió a recitar el alfabeto muy rápido.

A1

The boy learned to recite the alphabet very quickly.

Ella va a recitar un poema de amor en la boda.

B1

She is going to recite a love poem at the wedding.

El actor recitó sus líneas con mucha emoción.

B2

The actor recited his lines with a lot of emotion.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • declamar (to declaim/recite with style)
  • relatar (to relate/tell)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • recitar de memoriato recite from memory
  • recitar un poemato recite a poem
  • recitar una oraciónto recite a prayer

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesrecitaran
yorecitara
recitaras
vosotrosrecitarais
nosotrosrecitáramos
él/ella/ustedrecitara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesreciten
yorecite
recites
vosotrosrecitéis
nosotrosrecitemos
él/ella/ustedrecite

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesrecitaron
yorecité
recitaste
vosotrosrecitasteis
nosotrosrecitamos
él/ella/ustedrecitó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesrecitaban
yorecitaba
recitabas
vosotrosrecitabais
nosotrosrecitábamos
él/ella/ustedrecitaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesrecitan
yorecito
recitas
vosotrosrecitáis
nosotrosrecitamos
él/ella/ustedrecita

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "recitar" in Spanish:

to recite

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: recitar

Question 1 of 3

If a student says a poem from memory in class, which verb fits best?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
recitación(recitation)Noun
recital(recital/concert)Noun
recitador(reciter)Noun
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

From the Latin word 'recitare', meaning 'to read out' or 'to call out names from a list'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: reciteFrench: réciterItalian: recitare

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'recitar' always mean it's from memory?

Usually, yes. It implies you have learned the text or are performing it with a specific cadence, though it can occasionally refer to reading a formal list aloud.

Is 'recitar' used for music?

Not for singing, but the noun 'recital' is used for a musical performance or a poetry reading.

Is this verb regular?

Yes, 'recitar' is a completely regular -ar verb in all tenses.