Verb · A2 · Spanish glossary
Olvidar: to forget
olvidar
Pronunciation: ohl-bee-DAHR (stress the capital letters)
Olvidar means “to forget” in English.
Quick answer
- Meaning: to forget
- How to say it: ohl-bee-DAHR
- Present: yo olvido, tú olvidas
- Level: Elementary (A2)
What “olvidar” means and how to use it
Olvidar means “to forget.” You can say “olvidé las llaves” or the reflexive “se me olvidaron las llaves.”
How to conjugate “olvidar”
| Who | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | olvido | I |
| tú | olvidas | you (informal) |
| él, ella, usted | olvida | he, she, you (formal) |
| nosotros | olvidamos | we |
| ellos, ustedes | olvidan | they, you all |
| Past (preterite) | yo olvidé, él olvidó | I / he or she |
| Past participle | olvidado | used with haber |
Examples with audio
- Olvido mis llaves a veces.I sometimes forget my keys.
- No olvides tu pasaporte.Do not forget your passport.
- Se me olvidó su cumpleaños.I forgot his birthday (it slipped my mind).
Usage tip
“Se me olvidó” is a very natural way to say “I forgot,” because it treats the forgetting as something that happened to you.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “to forget” in Spanish?
“to forget” in Spanish is “olvidar.” It is pronounced ohl-bee-DAHR, with the stress on the syllable in capital letters.
How do you pronounce “olvidar”?
Say ohl-bee-DAHR. The syllable in capital letters gets the stress. Press the speaker button at the top of this page to hear it.
What is the past tense of “olvidar”?
In the preterite, “yo” is “olvidé” and “él” is “olvidó.” The past participle is “olvidado.”
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