recuerda
/rreh-KWEHR-dah/
remembers
Recuerda (He/She remembers) is visualized by the woman clearly recalling a past vacation while holding a memento.
recuerda(Verb)
remembers
?as in 'he/she/you remember(s) something'
recalls
?bringing a fact or memory to mind
📝 In Action
Mi abuela siempre recuerda las historias de su juventud.
A2My grandmother always remembers the stories from her youth.
¿Usted recuerda mi nombre?
A1Do you (formal) remember my name?
Él no recuerda dónde puso las llaves.
A2He doesn't remember where he put the keys.
💡 Grammar Points
A 'Boot' Verb (o → ue)
The verb recordar changes its spelling in the present tense. The 'o' becomes 'ue' for most forms (yo, tú, él, ellos), but not for 'nosotros' or 'vosotros'. Think of the changed forms as being inside a 'boot' shape on the conjugation chart.
`Recordar` vs. `Acordarse`
Both mean 'to remember.' Recordar is simple: 'Yo recuerdo tu nombre' (I remember your name). Acordarse is a bit different; it needs a word like 'me' and often uses 'de': 'Yo me acuerdo de tu nombre.' They are often used interchangeably.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Stem Change
Mistake: "Él recorda todo."
Correction: Él recuerda todo. The 'o' changes to 'ue' for the 'él/ella/usted' form.
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking About Memories
Use recuerda just like you use 'remembers' in English to talk about facts, events, or people from the past. It's a direct and common way to express memory.
When something recuerda (reminds) you of something else, the present object (the pie) triggers a memory (the grandmother).
recuerda(Verb)
reminds
?as in 'it reminds me of something'
is reminiscent of
?bringing something to mind by similarity
📝 In Action
Esa canción me recuerda a mi primer viaje a México.
B1That song reminds me of my first trip to Mexico.
Tu hermano me recuerda mucho a tu papá.
A2Your brother reminds me a lot of your dad.
Este olor me recuerda que debo sacar la basura.
B1This smell reminds me that I have to take out the trash.
💡 Grammar Points
How to Say 'Reminds ME'
To say something 'reminds' a person of something else, you need a little word in front of the verb: me (me), te (you), le (him/her), etc. For example, 'It reminds me' is 'Me recuerda'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'a'
Mistake: "Tu perro me recuerda mi perro."
Correction: Tu perro me recuerda a mi perro. When what you're being reminded of is a person or a pet, you usually need to add 'a' before it.
⭐ Usage Tips
Making Connections
This is the perfect way to draw a parallel between two things. 'This place reminds me of...' (Este lugar me recuerda a...) is a great conversation starter.
The command form ¡Recuerda! (Remember!) is depicted by one child giving a helpful, friendly instruction to another regarding the forgotten backpack.
recuerda(Verb)
Remember!
?a command given to one person you know well (tú form)
Remind!
?a command to remind someone of something
📝 In Action
Recuerda llamar a tu madre.
A1Remember to call your mom.
Por favor, recuerda que la reunión es a las 10.
A2Please, remember that the meeting is at 10.
Recuérdame que compre leche más tarde.
B1Remind me to buy milk later.
💡 Grammar Points
Giving Friendly Commands
Recuerda is the command form for 'tú' (the informal 'you'). You use it to tell a friend, family member, or child to remember something. It's a direct but polite way to give an instruction.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Wrong Form for a Command
Mistake: "Recordar apagar la luz."
Correction: Recuerda apagar la luz. When giving a direct command, you need to use the special command form, not the basic '-ar' form of the verb.
⭐ Usage Tips
Softening a Command
While recuerda is friendly, you can make it even softer by adding por favor (please) at the beginning or end of the sentence.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: recuerda
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly says 'Your perfume reminds me of my mom'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between `recuerda` and `recuerde`?
`Recuerda` is the command you give to a friend (tú), like '¡Recuerda!'. `Recuerde` is the more formal command you give to someone you'd call 'usted', or what you use in negative commands like 'No me recuerde eso' (Don't remind me of that).
Can I say 'recuerda de algo'?
No, that's a common mix-up with the verb `acordarse`. With `recordar`, you just say what you remember directly: 'Él recuerda la fecha' (He remembers the date). The verb that uses 'de' is `acordarse`: 'Él se acuerda de la fecha'.