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How to Say "recollection" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “recollection” is “memoria” — use 'memoria' when referring to the general cognitive ability to remember or store information, or when talking about a specific instance of remembering something.

English → Spanish

memoria

meh-MOH-ree-ahmeˈmo.ɾja

nounA1general
Use 'memoria' when referring to the general cognitive ability to remember or store information, or when talking about a specific instance of remembering something.
A simple illustration of a human head in profile, showing glowing, interconnected lines inside the brain area, representing the capacity for memory.

Examples

Mi abuela tiene muy buena memoria, recuerda todo de su juventud.

My grandmother has a very good memory; she remembers everything from her youth.

Necesitas ejercitar tu memoria para aprender vocabulario nuevo.

You need to exercise your memory to learn new vocabulary.

Tengo memorias muy vívidas de mi niñez en el campo.

I have very vivid memories of my childhood in the countryside.

Ella honró la memoria de su padre con una ceremonia.

She honored the memory of her father with a ceremony.

Always Feminine

Even though 'memoria' ends in '-a', it is always feminine (la memoria). Always use feminine articles and adjectives with it.

Plural Form

When talking about specific events, 'memoria' often becomes plural: 'las memorias' (the memories).

Mixing up 'memory' (faculty) and 'a memory' (specific event)

Mistake: “Guardo una buena memoria de mi viaje. (Trying to say 'I have a specific memory')”

Correction: Guardo un buen recuerdo de mi viaje. ('Recuerdo' is often better for a specific event, while 'memoria' is the general capacity.)

recuerdo

reh-KWEHR-dohreˈkweɾðo

nounA1general
Use 'recuerdo' specifically to refer to the act or feeling of remembering something, often implying a pleasant or nostalgic connection.
A child looking at an old, framed photograph of themselves as a baby.

Examples

Tengo un recuerdo muy feliz de mi abuela.

I have a very happy memory of my grandmother.

Esa canción me trae muchos recuerdos.

That song brings back many memories.

Borraron todo recuerdo de aquel suceso.

They erased every memory of that event.

Recuerdo vs. Memoria

Use 'recuerdo' for a specific memory (like a mental picture). Use 'memoria' for your brain's ability to store information (like having a 'good memory').

Plural Use

When talking about 'memories' in a general sense, Spanish almost always uses the plural form: 'recuerdos'.

Confusing with the action

Mistake: “No tengo la memoria de eso.”

Correction: No tengo el recuerdo de eso.

Memoria vs. Recuerdo

Learners often confuse 'memoria' and 'recuerdo'. Remember that 'memoria' is broader, covering the faculty of memory and specific remembered facts or events. 'Recuerdo' is more about the personal, emotional act or feeling of recalling something.

Related Translations

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