refiero
/reh-fee-EH-roh/
I refer (to)
Refiero (I refer): Using my finger to point out the specific thing I am talking about.
refiero(verb)
I refer (to)
?as in pointing out what one is talking about
,I mean
?as in clarifying a statement
I am talking about
?when clarifying a topic
📝 In Action
No te refieres al coche rojo, ¿verdad? Yo me refiero al azul.
A2You're not referring to the red car, are you? I mean the blue one.
Cuando digo 'el director', me refiero al señor López.
B1When I say 'the director,' I mean Mr. López.
Si no entiendes la palabra, refiero la pregunta al profesor.
B2If you don't understand the word, I refer the question to the teacher.
💡 Grammar Points
The Crucial 'A'
When using 'referir' to point out what you are talking about (like 'Me refiero a...'), you must always include the preposition 'a' (to) right after the verb.
Stem Change E>IE
'Referir' is a tricky verb! The 'e' in the stem changes to 'ie' in most forms, like 'refiero' and 'refieres,' but not in the 'nosotros' or 'vosotros' forms (referimos, referís).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Missing the Reflexive Pronoun
Mistake: "Yo refiero la película."
Correction: Yo *me* refiero a la película. When meaning 'I mean' or 'I am talking about,' the 'me' pronoun is required.
⭐ Usage Tips
Clarifying Your Point
Use 'Me refiero a eso' (I mean that/I am referring to that) frequently in conversation when you need to specify an ambiguous subject or object.
Refiero (I recount): Sharing the details of an event or story with an audience.
refiero(verb)
I recount
?as in telling a story or event
,I relate
?as in telling details of an event
I report
?of news or information
📝 In Action
Yo refiero la historia tal y como me la contaron.
B2I recount the story exactly as they told it to me.
El periodista dijo: 'Refiero los hechos sin añadir opiniones'.
C1The journalist said, 'I report the facts without adding opinions.'
💡 Grammar Points
Non-Reflexive Action
When 'refiero' means 'I recount' or 'I report,' you usually use it without the reflexive pronoun ('me'). The verb directly acts on the story or event.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Context
Reserve this meaning of 'refiero' for writing reports, relaying historical events, or very formal conversations. 'Contar' is much more common for casual storytelling.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: refiero
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'refiero' in its most common conversational context?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I almost always hear 'me refiero' instead of just 'refiero'?
When 'referir' means 'to mention' or 'to mean' something specific, it almost always acts reflexively in Spanish, becoming 'referirse.' The 'me' tells the listener that the speaker is directing their own attention (or referring themselves) to a specific topic.
If I am asking someone what they mean, how should I phrase it?
You would use the 'tú' form of the reflexive verb: '¿A qué te refieres?' (What are you referring to?/What do you mean?). Remember the crucial 'a'!