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"Recobrar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to recover", and "recuperar" is a transitive verb which is also often translated as "to recover". Learn more about the difference between "recobrar" and "recuperar" below.
recobrar(
rreh
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koh
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brrahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to recover
Después de seis meses, mi madre recobró la salud.After six months my mother recovered her health.
b. to get back
Ahora que está mejor, Teresa parece haber recobrado su sentido del humor.Now Teresa's feeling better, she seems to have got her sense of humor back.
d. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
El paciente todavía no ha recobrado la conciencia.The patient still hasn't come to.
¿Cuándo recobraste el conocimiento?When did you come around?
a. to make up for (lost time)
Aún eres joven; tienes que recobrar el tiempo perdido.You're still young; you need to make up for lost time.
4. (military)
a. to recapture
El ejército del rey recobró la ciudad en 1535.The king's army recaptured the city in 1535.
b. to retake
Después de tres días, nuestras tropas recobraron el pueblo.After three days, our troops retook the town.
recobrarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
b. to get over
Paola no ha podido recobrarse de su depresión.Paola hasn't been able to get over her depression.
a. to recoup (economic losses)
Los inversionistas finalmente se recobraron de todo lo que habían perdido.The investors finally recouped all the money they had lost.
recuperar(
rreh
-
koo
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peh
-
rahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to reclaim)
b. to get back
El partido cree que estas medidas le ayudarán a recuperar la credibilidad perdida.The party believes that these measures will help it get its lost credibility back.
c. to regain
Descubre cómo recuperar el control de tu vida siguiendo cuatro pasos fáciles.Discover how to regain control of your life by following four easy steps.
2. (finance)
a. to recoup (investment, loss)
Las personas estafadas por el banco pudieron recuperar su inversión.The people cheated by the bank were able to recoup their investments.
3. (computing)
a. to retrieve
Explicaré cómo recuperar los datos y los archivos del disco duro.I will explain how to retrieve your data and files from the hard disk.
a. to make up for
Tengo que trabajar esta noche para recuperar horas perdidas.I need to work tonight to make up for lost time.
b. to make up
Maestra, ¿cómo puedo recuperar las clases que perdí?Teacher, how can I make up the classes I missed?
a. to retake
Tengo que recuperar dos clases en septiembre.I have to retake two classes in September.
b. to make up (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Tienes que recuperar las asignaturas que reprobaste.You need to make up the subjects you failed.
c. to resit (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
¿Cuándo tienes que recuperar Música 101?When do you have to resit Music 101?
recuperarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to recover
Ya se ha recuperado totalmente de su enfermedad.He has completely recovered from his illness now.
b. to get over
Tardó más de una semana en recuperarse del resfriado.It took her more than a week to get over her cold.
c. to recuperate
Si necesitas tiempo para recuperarte, está bien.If you need time to recuperate, that's fine.
a. to recover
Se desmayó y no se recuperó hasta que no empezamos a abanicarlo.He fainted and he didn't recover until we started fanning him.
b. to come to
Cuando se recuperó, no recordaba nada.When she came to, she couldn't remember anything.
c. to come round
La duquesa se recuperó cuando su sirvienta le puso el botecito de sales bajo la nariz.The duchess came round when her maid put the bottle of smelling salts under her nose.
a. to recover
Los negocios afectados por el huracán ya se recuperaron.The businesses affected by the hurricane have recovered.
