Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Recall in Spanish: Recordar & Retirada
Recordar · verb / noun · reh-kohr-DAHR
The Spanish translation of 'recall' depends on meaning: 'recordar' for remembering something, 'retirada' or 'retiro del mercado' for a product recall, and 'revocatoria' for a political recall. The verb 'recordar' is a stem-changing verb (o → ue) and is one of the most frequently used verbs in Spanish.
Pronounce 'recordar' as reh-kohr-DAHR. In conjugated forms like 'recuerdo,' it becomes reh-KWEHR-doh due to the stem change.
No puedo recordar dónde dejé las llaves.
I can't recall where I left the keys.
Recall in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for recall, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| recordar | recall | reh-kohr-DAHR | Default, widely understood |
| retirada | recall | product recall context | |
| revocatoria | recall | political recall election |
How Native Speakers Use Recordar
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Memory
Recuerdo perfectamente el día que nos conocimos.
I recall perfectly the day we met.
Sharing a fond memory with someone.
Product safety
La empresa anunció la retirada de miles de vehículos.
The company announced the recall of thousands of vehicles.
Reporting a product safety recall in the news.
Political action
Los ciudadanos exigieron una revocatoria del gobernador.
The citizens demanded a recall of the governor.
Discussing political movements.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Recordar
Forgetting the stem change
Incorrect: Yo recordo muy bien esa canción.
Correct: Yo recuerdo muy bien esa canción.
'Recordar' has an o → ue stem change in the present tense. The first person is 'recuerdo,' not 'recordo.'
Using 'recordar' for product recalls
Incorrect: La fábrica decidió recordar todos los juguetes.
Correct: La fábrica decidió retirar todos los juguetes del mercado.
A product recall is 'retirada del mercado' or uses the verb 'retirar,' not 'recordar,' which only means to remember.
Lock in Recall 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 Recordar used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using recordar in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear No puedo recordar dónde dejé las llaves. 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 Recall in Spanish
- Is 'recordar' the same as 'acordarse'?
- Both mean to remember, but 'recordar' is transitive (recordar algo) while 'acordarse' is reflexive and requires 'de' (acordarse de algo), and they are largely interchangeable in everyday speech.
- How do you say 'product recall' in formal Spanish?
- The formal term is 'retiro del mercado' or 'retirada de producto,' used by regulatory agencies and companies when pulling defective items from sale.
- Does 'recall' have a political meaning in Spanish?
- A political recall election is called 'revocatoria de mandato' or simply 'revocatoria,' which is the legal mechanism for removing an elected official before their term ends through a public vote.