Acordar or recordar? What's the correct use?

Question

Commonly I heard people saying "oye, te acuerdas de esa pelicula?", the same way I heard "oye, recuerdas esa pelicula?". I've always believe that the action of `recuerdo` comes from `recordar`, so when someone uses `acordar`, it doesn't seem appropriated... What do you guys think?

Answer 1

Let's break down the difference between "acordar" and "recordar" in the context you've mentioned.



1. Recordar: This verb means "to remember" and refers to the act of bringing something to mind from memory. It's about recalling information, events, or experiences. When you say "Recuerdo esa película," it means "I remember that movie." The action of remembering originates from "recordar," and it's the verb that directly translates to the concept of memory recall.
2. Acordar: This verb has several meanings, but in the context of "acordarse de," it means "to remember" as well. However, "acordarse" is more about bringing something to mind or becoming aware of something again, often with a sense of recollection that might involve a conscious effort or realization. When people say "¿Te acuerdas de esa película?", they're asking "Do you remember that movie?" in a way that invites shared recollection or acknowledgment.

Both "¿Recuerdas esa película?" and "¿Te acuerdas de esa película?" are correct and commonly used, and they can often be used interchangeably in casual conversation. The difference is more about the nuance of how memory is being referenced:

1. ¿Recuerdas esa película? directly asks if the person remembers the movie.
2. ¿Te acuerdas de esa película? might imply a slightly more reflective or shared memory aspect, though in practice, both questions are used to ask about memory recall.

Your intuition that "recordar" is more directly associated with the action of "recuerdo" is correct in terms of direct translation and meaning. However, "acordarse de" is a very common and accepted way to talk about remembering things in Spanish, especially in informal contexts. Both verbs are appropriate depending on the context or the nuance you want to convey, but "acordarse de" is particularly common in conversational Spanish for discussing memories or shared experiences.

Answer 2

"Recordar" and "acordarse de" both mean remember. The key here is that "acordar" means "to agree (with, on, to)" and "acordarse de" means "to remember".

For example:

Me acuerdo de la historia que nos contó. = Recuerdo la historia que nos contó.

Both mean "I remember the story he/she told us."