Inklingo

How to Say "forgets" in Spanish

English → Spanish

olvida

ohl-VEE-dah/olˈβiða/

VerbA1General
Use 'olvida' when referring to the act of forgetting something from your memory, like a fact, a name, or a task.
A young character with a confused expression, standing next to a table with a half-eaten sandwich, looking at an empty space where a memory should be.

Examples

Se me olvida comprar leche.

I forget to buy milk.

Ella olvida siempre dónde pone las llaves.

She always forgets where she puts the keys.

Usted olvida que tenemos una reunión mañana.

You (formal) forget that we have a meeting tomorrow.

The Regular AR Verb Pattern

This form follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -ar. You drop the -ar and add -a for 'él', 'ella', or 'usted' in the present tense.

Using 'Se' Incorrectly

Mistake: “Él se olvida su nombre.”

Correction: Él olvida su nombre. (Using 'se olvidar' usually means 'to forget something by accident' or 'to forget oneself', but simple forgetting uses 'olvidar' without 'se'.)

deja

/DEH-hah//ˈde.xa/

VerbA1General
Use 'deja' when referring to unintentionally leaving an object somewhere, causing it to be forgotten or misplaced.
A hand placing a keyring with several keys onto a polished wooden desk or table.

Examples

Dejé las gafas en el coche.

I left my glasses in the car.

Ella siempre deja sus llaves en la mesa.

She always leaves her keys on the table.

Mi hermano deja la toalla mojada en la cama.

My brother leaves the wet towel on the bed.

¿Usted deja un mensaje después del tono?

Do you (formal) leave a message after the tone?

What 'deja' is

'Deja' is a form of the verb 'dejar'. It's used for 'he', 'she', 'it', or the formal 'you' (usted). For example, 'El cartero deja el correo' means 'The mailman leaves the mail.'

'Dejar' vs. 'Salir'

Mistake: “Using 'deja' for a person leaving a place. For example: *'Él deja la casa a las 8.'*”

Correction: Use 'sale' for people leaving: 'Él sale de la casa a las 8.' Use 'deja' for leaving *objects* behind: 'Él deja su mochila en casa.'

Forgetting vs. Leaving Behind

Learners often confuse 'olvidar' (to forget from memory) with 'dejar' (to leave something behind). Remember that 'olvidar' is about mental recall, while 'dejar' is about the physical act of leaving an item.

Related Translations

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