How do you say 'acknowledge' in Spanish?

The primary translation is reconocer, which also means 'to recognize' and 'to admit,' depending on the context.

Is reconocer regular or irregular?

Reconocer is irregular in the present tense first-person singular (yo reconozco), following the same c-to-zc pattern as conocer.

How do you say 'acknowledged' in a formal email?

In formal correspondence, the phrase acusar recibo (to acknowledge receipt) is standard: acuso recibo de su mensaje (I acknowledge receipt of your message).

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

Acknowledge in Spanish: Reconocer

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Reconocer · verb · reh-koh-noh-SEHR

The English verb 'acknowledge' translates primarily to reconocer in Spanish. Reconocer covers recognizing, admitting, and acknowledging, making it broader than its English counterpart. It is an irregular verb with a c-to-zc change before a and o.

Pronounce reconocer as reh-koh-noh-SEHR, stressing the final syllable.

Es importante reconocer tus errores.

It's important to acknowledge your mistakes.

Acknowledge in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for acknowledge, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
reconocer	acknowledge	reh-koh-noh-SEHR	Default, widely understood
acusar recibo	acknowledge		formal, to acknowledge receipt
admitir	acknowledge		to acknowledge or admit something

How Native Speakers Use Reconocer

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Admitting a mistake

El director reconoció que la decisión fue equivocada.

The director acknowledged that the decision was wrong.

A leader taking responsibility.

Recognizing effort

Quiero reconocer el esfuerzo de todos los voluntarios.

I want to acknowledge the effort of all the volunteers.

Expressing gratitude publicly.

Formal receipt

Le escribo para acusar recibo de su solicitud.

I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your application.

Professional email correspondence.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Reconocer

Irregular yo form

Incorrect: Yo reconoco mis errores.

Correct: Yo reconozco mis errores.

Reconocer has a c-to-zc stem change in the first-person singular: reconozco, not reconoco.

Using acknowledgar

Incorrect: Necesito acknowledgar el problema.

Correct: Necesito reconocer el problema.

There is no Spanish verb 'acknowledgar.' The correct translation is reconocer.

Lock in Acknowledge Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Reconocer used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using reconocer in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Es importante reconocer tus errores. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About Acknowledge in Spanish

How do you say 'acknowledge' in Spanish?: The primary translation is reconocer, which also means 'to recognize' and 'to admit,' depending on the context.
Is reconocer regular or irregular?: Reconocer is irregular in the present tense first-person singular (yo reconozco), following the same c-to-zc pattern as conocer.
How do you say 'acknowledged' in a formal email?: In formal correspondence, the phrase acusar recibo (to acknowledge receipt) is standard: acuso recibo de su mensaje (I acknowledge receipt of your message).