Can someone explain "dar cuenta" to me, please?

Question

I have come across this phrase - 'dar cuenta' - many times in my reading of Spanish books, and I think I understand its basic meaning. But I'd like to know more specifically how it can be used. Could someone elaborate on it - perhaps give some synonyms for the phrase in both English and Spanish? (As I'm very much a beginner, please don't make it too complicated! )

Here are a couple of (belated) examples:

Cuando él se dio cuenta de que ellos se habían burlando de él, se enfureció.

Se dieron cuenta de que hablaba de ellos.

I should have posted these examples before....sorry, everyone! :( - Achsah, Feb 18, 2011

Answer 1

With reflexive pronoun:
?I just realized that reconocer is spelled the same way frontward and backward ? Me acabo de dar cuenta de que la palabra «reconocer» se lee igual hacia adelante que hacia atrás.

? I just noticed that the word "Estudia," if we separate it is "Es tu día." Me acabo de dar cuenta de que la palabra «Estudia» si lo separamos es «Es tu día».

?Cuando él se dio cuenta de que ellos se habían burlando de él, se enfureció. ? When he realized that they had been making fun of him, he became infuriated.

?Se dieron cuenta de que hablaba de ellos. ? They noticed that I was talking about them.

Answer 2

When it is reflexive "darse cuenta", it means to realize something. Like, I just realized that reconocer is spelled the same way frontward and backward. Dar cuenta is to give an account, like to relate a story. At least that's how I understand them.

Thank you, ocbizlaw, I think that's pretty much what I was looking for! - Achsah, Feb 18, 2011

Answer 3

Sin darse cuenta=without realizing it

Perdona ,te he pisado sin darme cuenta(=sin querer hacerlo,sin intención,inadvertidamente).

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Ahora me doy cuenta(=Ahora comprendo)=Now I see=I get it

Answer 4

Welcome to the forum. Can you post some examples in English and Spanish, perhaps? We can help you from there.