What is the difference between “acordarse” and “recordar”?

Do you know the difference between “acordarse” and “recordar”? It’s easier than it sounds!

The main difference is their structure:

Acordarse means to remember something. We always use it with a pronoun and it is generally followed by the preposition “de”.

• No me acuerdo. I don’t remember.
• ¿Te acuerdas de la primera vez que visitamos México? Do you remember the first time we visited Mexico.
• Siempre se acuerda de todos los cumpleaños. She always remembers everyone’s birthdays.

On the other hand, recordar means to recall or to remind. This verb does not need a pronoun, and it isn’t followed by a specific preposition:

• Recuerda llamarlo esta noche. Remember to call him tonight.
• ¿No te recuerda a alguien? Doesn’t she remind you of someone?
• No recuerdo la última vez que hablamos por teléfono. I can’t recall the last time we spoke on the phone.