Inklingo

How to Say "to remind" in Spanish

English → Spanish

recordar

reh-kor-DAHRrekorˈðar

VerbB1General
Use 'recordar' when you want to say that something or someone causes you to remember a past event, person, or thing, or when one person is similar to another.
A tall character pointing decisively at a large, distinct key hanging on a hook near a door, while a shorter character standing nearby looks at the key with sudden recognition.

Examples

Este recuerdo me recuerda a mi infancia.

This memory reminds me of my childhood.

Ella me recuerda mucho a su madre.

She reminds me a lot of her mother (or she looks a lot like her mother).

Mi alarma me recordó la hora de la reunión.

My alarm reminded me of the time of the meeting.

El jefe nos recordó que el informe es urgente.

The boss reminded us that the report is urgent.

The 'To Remind' Structure

When 'recordar' means 'to remind someone,' the person being reminded is usually the direct recipient of the action (me, te, nos, etc.), and the thing they are reminded of follows with 'a' or 'que': 'Me recordó a mi niñez' (He reminded me of my childhood).

Confusing Transitivity

Mistake: “El café me recuerda de mi casa.”

Correction: El café me recuerda a mi casa. Use 'a' after 'recordar' when linking the reminder to a person or thing, or use 'que' when linking it to a full idea ('Me recordó que comprara pan').

acordar

ah-kor-DARa.koɾˈðaɾ

VerbB1General
Use 'acordar' primarily when something causes a person to recall a specific piece of information or a past event, often with a sense of bringing it back to mind.
A person pointing at a bright red string tied around their finger to help them remember.

Examples

El olor a pan recién hecho me acordaba de mi abuela.

The smell of fresh bread reminded me of my grandmother.

Este smell me acordaba de mi infancia.

This smell reminded me of my childhood.

¿Te acuerda cuando fuimos a París?

Do you remember when we went to Paris?

Regional Usage

This meaning is much more common in Latin America than in Spain. In Spain, people typically use 'recordar' instead.

Recordar vs. Acordar: The Nuance

Learners often confuse 'recordar' and 'acordar'. While both can mean 'to remind,' 'recordar' is more common for general reminiscence and likeness, whereas 'acordar' often implies bringing a specific memory back to conscious thought.

Related Translations

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