How do you say 'forget' in Spanish?

The verb is olvidar, and it can also be used reflexively as olvidarse de to emphasize the involuntary nature of forgetting.

What is the difference between olvidar and olvidarse?

Olvidar presents forgetting as a straightforward action, while olvidarse de adds a reflexive nuance suggesting the forgetting happened to you unintentionally.

How do you conjugate olvidar in the past tense?

In the preterite it follows regular -ar patterns: yo olvidé, tú olvidaste, él olvidó, nosotros olvidamos, ellos olvidaron.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

Forget in Spanish: Olvidar

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

Olvidar · verb · ohl-vee-DAR

Olvidar is the Spanish verb meaning to forget. It can be used in its plain form or reflexively as olvidarse de.

ohl-vee-DAR

No quiero olvidar este momento.

I don't want to forget this moment.

Forget in Spanish: Quick Reference

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

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
olvidar	forget	ohl-vee-DAR	Default, widely understood
olvidarse de	forget		reflexive form

How Native Speakers Use Olvidar

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

Lost keys

Olvidé las llaves en la oficina.

I forgot the keys at the office.

Realizing you left something behind.

Reflexive form

Me olvidé de comprar leche.

I forgot to buy milk.

Using the reflexive construction for an errand.

Emotional context

Nunca voy a olvidar lo que hiciste por mí.

I will never forget what you did for me.

Expressing deep gratitude.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Olvidar

Missing reflexive preposition

Incorrect: Me olvidé comprar el pan.

Correct: Me olvidé de comprar el pan.

The reflexive form olvidarse requires the preposition de before the infinitive or noun.

Confusing with dejar

Incorrect: Olvidé de traer mi libro.

Correct: Olvidé traer mi libro.

The non-reflexive olvidar takes a direct infinitive without de — the preposition is only needed with olvidarse.

Lock in Forget 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 Olvidar used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using olvidar in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear No quiero olvidar este momento. 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 Forget in Spanish

How do you say 'forget' in Spanish?: The verb is olvidar, and it can also be used reflexively as olvidarse de to emphasize the involuntary nature of forgetting.
What is the difference between olvidar and olvidarse?: Olvidar presents forgetting as a straightforward action, while olvidarse de adds a reflexive nuance suggesting the forgetting happened to you unintentionally.
How do you conjugate olvidar in the past tense?: In the preterite it follows regular -ar patterns: yo olvidé, tú olvidaste, él olvidó, nosotros olvidamos, ellos olvidaron.