recorrer
/reh-koh-REHR/
to travel through
The hiker is traveling through the forest, illustrating the meaning of 'recorrer' as moving across an area.
recorrer(verb)
to travel through
?moving across an area
,to go over
?exploring a specific route
to wander
?walking around without a strict plan
,to traverse
?formal or technical movement across land
📝 In Action
Queremos recorrer toda Europa este verano.
A2We want to travel through all of Europe this summer.
Recorrieron la ciudad a pie buscando el museo.
B1They went all over the city on foot looking for the museum.
El sendero recorre la orilla del río.
B1The path goes along the river bank.
💡 Grammar Points
Using it without 'por'
Unlike 'caminar' (to walk) which often uses 'por' to say where you walk, 'recorrer' usually takes the place directly as its object. You 'recorrer la ciudad', not 'recorrer por la ciudad'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Recorrer vs. Recordar
Mistake: "Using 'recorrer' when you mean 'to remember'."
Correction: Use 'recordar' for memories. 'Recorrer' is about movement and distance.
⭐ Usage Tips
Think of a Scanner
Think of the word 'course' (as in racecourse). Recorrer is basically 'running a course' or covering an area from start to finish.
The person scans the map with their eyes, illustrating 'recorrer' as looking over something carefully.
recorrer(verb)
to scan
?looking over something with eyes
,to look over
?examining a document or scene
to eye
?observing someone from head to toe
📝 In Action
Sus ojos recorrieron la lista rápidamente.
B2His eyes scanned the list quickly.
Recorrió la habitación con la mirada.
B2She looked over the room with her gaze.
💡 Grammar Points
Visual Movement
When used with 'la mirada' (the gaze) or 'los ojos' (the eyes), it describes a smooth movement of looking from one side of something to the other.
⭐ Usage Tips
Literary feel
Using 'recorrer' for looking makes your Spanish sound more descriptive and advanced than just saying 'mirar'.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: recorrer
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence best describes exploring a new neighborhood?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'recorrer' a regular verb?
Yes, it follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -er, making it very easy to conjugate!
Can I use 'recorrer' for miles or kilometers?
Yes! You can use it to say how much distance you have covered, like 'Recorrimos diez kilómetros'.