recordaba
“recordaba” means “used to remember” in Spanish (past habit or state).
used to remember
Also: was remembering, reminded
📝 In Action
Yo recordaba su cara, pero no su nombre.
A2I remembered (used to remember) her face, but not her name.
Él recordaba sus veranos en el campo.
A2He used to remember his summers in the countryside.
Ese olor me recordaba a mi abuela.
B1That smell reminded me of my grandmother.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: recordaba
Question 1 of 2
If you say 'Ella recordaba la canción', what does it mean?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'recordari', which combines 're-' (again) and 'cor/cordis' (heart). It literally means 'to bring back to the heart.'
First recorded: 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'recordé' and 'recordaba'?
Use 'recordé' for a single moment where you remembered something (like 'I suddenly remembered my keys'). Use 'recordaba' for a state of memory or something you remembered over a period of time (like 'I used to remember his phone number').
Does 'recordaba' mean 'to record' like a video?
No. While they share an origin, 'recordaba' only refers to memory in Spanish. To say 'was recording' a video, you would use 'grababa'.