Overview of the difference between the Spanish verbs “recordar” and “acordarse,” including usage, grammar, pronouns, and examples.
Spanish has two common verbs for “to remember”: recordar and acordarse. While they both involve memory, they differ in grammar and usage. Recordar is a transitive verb that directly takes an object, while acordarse is pronominal and often followed by de. Understanding this distinction is key to using them correctly.
Usage
Recordar means “to remember” or “to remind” and is used with a direct object (what is being remembered).
Acordarse (usually “acordarse de”) means “to remember” something and uses a reflexive pronoun with the preposition de before the object.
Examples:
- Recordar: Recuerdo tu cumpleaños. (I remember your birthday.)
- Acordarse: Me acuerdo de tu cumpleaños. (I remember your birthday.)
Grammar
| Aspect | Recordar | Acordarse |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Transitive verb | Pronominal (reflexive) verb |
| Object | Direct object (no preposition) | Object introduced by de |
| Pronouns | Optional for object (lo/la) | Reflexive pronoun required (me/te/se) |
| Example | Recuerdo la película. | Me acuerdo de la película. |
Tip: With acordarse, don’t omit the reflexive pronoun or the preposition de.
Which of the following correctly describes “acordarse”?
It’s a pronominal (reflexive) verb that requires a reflexive pronoun and “de.”
“Acordarse” is always used with a reflexive pronoun and the preposition “de” (e.g., “Me acuerdo de la película.”).
Reflexive Pronouns
Acordarse always requires a reflexive pronoun that matches the subject:
| Subject | Reflexive Pronoun | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | me | Me acuerdo de ti. | I remember you. |
| tú | te | Te acuerdas de mí. | You remember me. |
| él/ella/usted | se | Se acuerda de Juan. | He/she remembers Juan. |
| nosotros/as | nos | Nos acordamos de eso. | We remember that. |
| vosotros/as | os | Os acordáis de la fiesta. | You (pl.) remember the party. |
| ellos/as/ustedes | se | Se acuerdan de la canción. | They remember the song. |
Common Mistakes
| Error | Correction | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Me acuerdo Juan. | Me acuerdo de Juan. | Always use de after acordarse. |
| Acuerdo de Juan. | Me acuerdo de Juan. | Reflexive pronoun is required. |
| Recuerdo de Juan. | Recuerdo a Juan. | Recordar does not need de, but can use a for people. |
| Recuerdo me. | Me acuerdo. / Recuerdo. | Personal pronouns can’t be stacked like this. |
What is wrong with “Recuerdo de Juan.”?
“Recordar” does not take the preposition “de.” It should be “Recuerdo a Juan.”
“Recordar” takes a direct object and does not use “de” (e.g., “Recuerdo a Juan.”).
Summary
- Recordar = to remember a thing or person (direct object).
- Acordarse (de) = to remember something (reflexive and uses de).
- Reflexive pronoun is mandatory with acordarse.
- Don’t use de with recordar (except a for people).
- Both can appear in similar sentences but have different constructions.
Last updated: Thu Jun 5, 2025
