Recordar Conjugation: All Spanish Tenses

Recordar (to remember, to remind) is a very common Spanish verb and it is irregular: it diphthongizes o→ue in the stressed forms (recuerdo, recuerdas, recuerda, recuerdan; subjunctive recuerde, recuerdes, recuerde, recuerden). In nosotros and vosotros, and in the preterite, imperfect and future, the stem keeps the o (recordamos, recordé, recordaré). The participle is regular (recordado).

Indicative Tenses of Recordar

Recordar in the Present (Presente)

Habits, current facts and general truths: Recuerdo aquel día con cariño (I remember that day fondly).

Present tense rules →

Recordar in the Preterite (Pretérito indefinido)

Completed actions at a specific moment in the past: Ayer recordé dónde había dejado las llaves (Yesterday I remembered where I had left the keys).

Preterite rules →

Recordar in the Present Perfect (Pretérito perfecto)

Past connected to the present: Hoy he recordado tu cumpleaños justo a tiempo (Today I remembered your birthday just in time).

Present perfect rules →

Recordar in the Imperfect (Pretérito imperfecto)

Habitual or ongoing actions in the past: De niño recordaba todas las canciones de memoria (As a child I remembered all the songs by heart).

Imperfect rules →

Recordar in the Past Perfect (Pluscuamperfecto)

An action before another past action: Cuando me lo dijo, ya lo había recordado yo solo (When he told me, I had already remembered it on my own).

Past perfect rules →

Recordar in the Future (Futuro simple)

Plans and predictions: Siempre recordaré este viaje (I will always remember this trip).

Future tense rules →

Recordar in the Future Perfect (Futuro perfecto)

An action that will be completed in the future: Para entonces ya habré recordado su nombre (By then I will have remembered his name).

Future perfect rules →

Recordar in the Conditional (Condicional simple)

Advice and hypothetical situations: Yo recordaría también los buenos momentos (I would also remember the good times).

Conditional rules →

Recordar in the Conditional Perfect (Condicional compuesto)

Hypotheses about the past: Habría recordado la cita si me la hubieras apuntado (I would have remembered the appointment if you had written it down for me).

Conditional perfect rules →

Subjunctive Tenses of Recordar

Present Subjunctive of Recordar (Presente de subjuntivo)

Wishes, doubts and emotions: Quiero que recuerdes siempre esta promesa (I want you to always remember this promise).

Present subjunctive rules →

Present Perfect Subjunctive of Recordar (Pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo)

Evaluating a recent past action: Espero que hayas recordado apagar el horno (I hope you remembered to turn off the oven).

Perfect subjunctive rules →

Imperfect Subjunctive of Recordar (Pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo)

Hypothetical conditions: Si recordaras la contraseña, podrías entrar (If you remembered the password, you could log in).

Imperfect subjunctive rules →

Past Perfect Subjunctive of Recordar (Pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo)

Unreal hypotheses about the past: Si hubieras recordado avisarme, te habría esperado (If you had remembered to let me know, I would have waited for you).

Past perfect subjunctive rules →

Imperative of Recordar

Affirmative Commands of Recordar (Imperativo afirmativo)

Orders and requests: ¡Recuerda cerrar la puerta al salir! (Remember to close the door when you leave!)

Affirmative commands rules →

Negative Commands of Recordar (Imperativo negativo)

Prohibitions and negative advice: No recuerdes solo lo malo (Don't remember only the bad things).

Negative commands rules →

Expressions with Recordar

• Recordar algo de memoria - to know something by heart
• Si mal no recuerdo - if I remember correctly
• Recordar a alguien a otra persona - to remind someone of another person
• Recordarle algo a alguien - to remind someone of something