The present tense of reconocer is used to express actions or states that are currently happening or that occur habitually. For example, Reconozco a mi vecino cuando lo veo. (I recognize my neighbor when I see him.)

Reconocer is a spelling-changing verb that follows the -cer to -zca pattern in certain conjugations. This means that the c changes to zc before the vowels a and o.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Reconocer (to recognize) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish):

Reconocer generally means to recognize or acknowledge something, but has several different meanings in the Present Tense, some of which might surprise you.

To recognize or identify: For example, Reconozco a esa persona de la fiesta. (I recognize that person from the party.)

To admit or acknowledge: For example, Reconozco que cometí un error. (I admit that I made a mistake.)

To express gratitude: For example, Reconozco tu esfuerzo por ayudarme. (I acknowledge your effort in helping me.)

To inspect or examine: For example, El médico me reconoce cada seis meses. (The doctor examines me every six months.)

To grant or confer (colloquial): For example, ¡Reconozco que eres el mejor! (I grant that you’re the best!)

Examples

Examples of Reconocer in the Present Tense

Cuando veo una cara familiar, reconozco a esa persona de inmediato. (When I see a familiar face, I recognize that person right away.)

¿Reconoces a ese actor? Es el protagonista de la nueva película. (Do you recognize that actor? He’s the lead in the new movie.)

Mi abuela reconoce los sonidos de la naturaleza con facilidad. (My grandmother easily recognizes the sounds of nature.)

Reconocemos el valor de la educación en nuestra familia. (We recognize the value of education in our family.)

Los críticos reconocen el talento del nuevo chef. (The critics recognize the talent of the new chef.)

En la oficina, reconozco el arduo trabajo de mis colegas. (At the office, I recognize the hard work of my colleagues.)

Mis amigos reconocen mi pasión por la música. (My friends recognize my passion for music.)

Los padres reconocen los logros de sus hijos en la escuela. (Parents recognize their children’s achievements at school.)

En la calle, reconozco los olores de las flores y el pan recién horneado. (On the street, I recognize the smells of flowers and freshly baked bread.)

Los turistas reconocen los monumentos históricos de la ciudad. (Tourists recognize the city’s historical monuments.)

En la empresa, reconocemos la importancia de la diversidad e inclusión. (At the company, we recognize the importance of diversity and inclusion.)

Los artistas reconocen la influencia de sus mentores en su trabajo. (Artists recognize the influence of their mentors on their work.)

En la comunidad, reconocemos el impacto de los voluntarios. (In the community, we recognize the impact of volunteers.)

Los expertos reconocen los efectos del cambio climático en el medio ambiente. (Experts recognize the effects of climate change on the environment.)

En las redes sociales, reconozco las tendencias y los movimientos populares. (On social media, I recognize popular trends and movements.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Reconocer (to recognize) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:

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

Synonyms

The Present tense is also known as the Simple Present, Present Simple, Present Tense, or Present Indicative in English, and as Presente de Indicativo, Presente Simple, Tiempo Presente, or Indicativo Presente in Spanish.