retroceder
/reh-tro-seh-DEHR/
to move back
The car moves back, illustrating the physical movement of 'retroceder'.
retroceder(verb)
to move back
?physical movement
,to back up
?driving a vehicle
to step back
?moving away from something
📝 In Action
El coche tuvo que retroceder porque la calle era muy estrecha.
A2The car had to back up because the street was very narrow.
Retrocedí unos pasos para ver mejor el cuadro.
B1I stepped back a few paces to see the painting better.
💡 Grammar Points
A Friendly Regular Verb
Good news! This verb follows the standard rules for -er verbs. You don't have to worry about any unexpected spelling changes.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't confuse with 'atrás'
Mistake: "Yo voy a retroceder atrás."
Correction: Yo voy a retroceder.
⭐ Usage Tips
Driving Tip
If you are in a car and someone tells you 'retrocede', they mean you should put it in reverse!
The goat backs down from the confrontation, showing 'retroceder' as changing a position.
retroceder(verb)
to back down
?changing an opinion or position
,to retreat
?giving up ground or a stance
📝 In Action
El gobierno no va a retroceder en su reforma educativa.
B2The government is not going to back down on its education reform.
Ante las amenazas, el equipo decidió retroceder.
B2Faced with threats, the team decided to retreat.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: retroceder
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence best uses 'retroceder' to mean 'to back up a car'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'retroceder' irregular?
No, it is a perfectly regular -er verb. It follows the same patterns as 'comer' or 'beber'.
Can I use 'retroceder' for a video?
Yes! You can say 'retrocede el video' to mean 'rewind the video'.