recordar (que)
verbCEFR B2High frequency
What does “recordar (que)” mean in English?
to remember
to remember (recordar que / recordar + inf — recall from memory, no IOP)
Example sentences
Recuerdo perfectamente que aquella tarde hacía un frío inusual y que las farolas aún no habían encendido.
I remember perfectly that that afternoon it was unusually cold and that the streetlights had not yet come on.
No recuerdo haber firmado ese documento en ningún momento.
I don't remember signing that document at any point.
Recuerdo que me dijeron que el plazo era el viernes, pero ahora no encuentro el correo.
I remember that they told me the deadline was Friday, but I can't find the email now.
How to use it
Recordar que means 'to remember that' — factual recall with an embedded clause. Recordar + infinitive means 'to remember doing' (same subject). No IOP is present. Critical distinction: this atom focuses on the 'remember' sense. The 'remind' sense (recordarle algo a alguien) requires an IOP. See also: acordarse de (reflexive, colloquial register for remember), rememorar (deliberate literary recall), evocar (sense-triggered). At B2, controlling the recordar (remember) / recordar-IOP (remind) / acordarse de distinction is essential.
Common mistake
The most important distinction: recordar WITHOUT IOP = to remember (I remember). Recordar WITH IOP = to remind (te recuerdo). These are both common in B2 narrative: getting them confused produces sentences that say the opposite of what is intended. Also: recordar que (remember that) takes indicative; different from subjunctive-trigger verbs.