recitar
verbCEFR B2
What does “recitar” mean in English?
to say a poem, text or piece of writing aloud from memory, especially in a formal or artistic setting
Example sentences
El niño recitó un poema entero de memoria delante de toda la clase.
The boy recited an entire poem from memory in front of the whole class.
El actor recitó varios versos de Neruda al final de la ceremonia.
The actor recited several lines by Neruda at the end of the ceremony.
How to use it
Recitar (regular -ar verb) means 'to recite' — to say a poem or memorised text aloud, typically in a formal, educational or artistic setting. Core collocations: recitar un poema, recitar de memoria. Distinguish from leer (to read, using a text) and contar (to tell, a story in one's own words).
Common mistake
Recitar specifically implies reciting from memory, often a poem or a formal text; it is not a general synonym for leer (to read aloud from a text) or contar (to tell a story in one's own words).
Topics
Related B2 words
Reference
This entry’s teaching guidance follows Plan Curricular del Instituto Cervantes (Instituto Cervantes), B2 Nociones específicas: literatura.