The preterite of recordar is used to express when you remembered or recalled something at a specific moment in the past. For example, when you want to say “I suddenly remembered his name” – “Recordé su nombre de repente.”

This verb follows the regular -ar conjugation pattern in the preterite tense. Unlike in the present tense where it has a stem change, recordar is completely regular in the preterite.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Recordar (to remember) in the Preterite (Past) Tense tense (Castilian Spanish):

The Preterite of recordar expresses specific instances of remembering in the past.

To remember (specific moment): Used when memory of something occurred at a specific time, for example Recordé su nombre cuando lo vi (I remembered his name when I saw him), or De repente recordaron la cita (Suddenly they remembered the appointment).

To recall/bring to mind: Indicates actively recalling information or memories, for example Recordé todos los detalles del accidente (I recalled all the details of the accident).

Examples

Examples of Recordar in the Preterite (Past) Tense

Recordé su cumpleaños justo a tiempo. (I remembered their birthday just in time.)

¿Recordaste traer las llaves? (Did you remember to bring the keys?)

Ella recordó la cita con el dentista. (She remembered the dentist appointment.)

Recordamos los buenos momentos juntos. (We remembered the good times together.)

Los estudiantes recordaron estudiar para el examen. (The students remembered to study for the exam.)

No recordé su nombre en ese momento. (I didn’t remember their name at that moment.)

¿Recordaste apagar las luces? (Did you remember to turn off the lights?)

Recordamos el camino a casa. (We remembered the way home.)

Todos recordaron traer un regalo. (Everyone remembered to bring a gift.)

Recordé la fecha de nuestro aniversario. (I remembered the date of our anniversary.)

¿Recordaste enviar el correo? (Did you remember to send the email?)

Recordaron los viejos tiempos. (They remembered the old times.)

No recordé hacer la tarea. (I didn’t remember to do the homework.)

Recordamos llevar paraguas. (We remembered to bring umbrellas.)

Ella recordó cerrar la puerta. (She remembered to close the door.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Recordar (to remember) in the Preterite (Past) Tense tense (Castilian Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Castilian Spanish. For Latin American Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Preterite tense is also known as the Simple Past, Past Simple, Definite Past, Absolute Past, or Past Tense Indicative in English, and as Pretérito Perfecto Simple, Pretérito Indefinido, Pretérito Simple, Pasado Simple, or Pretérito de Indicativo in Spanish.