recurrir
“recurrir” means “to turn to” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to turn to, to resort to
Also: to use
📝 In Action
Cuando tengo problemas de dinero, recurro a mis padres.
A2When I have money problems, I turn to my parents.
No queremos recurrir a la violencia.
B1We don't want to resort to violence.
Tuve que recurrir a un diccionario para entender la carta.
B1I had to use a dictionary to understand the letter.
to appeal, to challenge
📝 In Action
Voy a recurrir la multa de tráfico porque es injusta.
B2I am going to appeal the traffic fine because it's unfair.
El abogado decidió recurrir la sentencia.
C1The lawyer decided to appeal the sentence.
Tienen diez días para recurrir esta decisión.
B2They have ten days to challenge this decision.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: recurrir
Question 1 of 3
Choose the correct sentence to say 'I turn to my friends':
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'recurrere', which literally meant 'to run back'. Over time, it evolved from 'running back' to 'going back to someone for help'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does recurrir mean 'to happen again' like the English 'recur'?
No! This is a false friend. In Spanish, to say something happens again, use 'repetirse' or 'volver a ocurrir'.
What is the difference between 'apelar' and 'recurrir'?
They are very similar. 'Apelar' is strictly legal. 'Recurrir' is used both in legal contexts and in everyday life when seeking help.
Is 'recurso' related to this word?
Yes! 'Recurso' (resource) is the noun form. It's the thing you 'recurrir a' (turn to) when you need a solution.