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olvidarse means to forget — a common term in Essential Spanish. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: November 23, 2025

📘 Essential Spanish

olvidarse

verb • /[ol-bee-DAR-se]/

to forget

Example:

Se me olvidó el paraguas en casa.

I forgot my umbrella at home.

🧠 What does olvidarse mean?

The verb 'olvidarse' is a pronominal verb meaning 'to forget'. It is often used with the preposition 'de' when followed by a noun or an infinitive verb. This form typically implies an unintentional act of forgetting. It can also mean to leave something behind accidentally. A very common related structure is 'se + indirect object pronoun + olvidar' (e.g., 'se me olvidó'), which frames the forgetting as an accident that happened to the person, rather than something they actively did.

📚 Extra examples

  • Me olvidé de que hoy era tu cumpleaños. ¡Lo siento!
    I forgot that today was your birthday. I'm sorry!
  • Se olvidó el paraguas en el restaurante.
    He forgot his umbrella at the restaurant.
  • No te olvides de llamar a tus abuelos.
    Don't forget to call your grandparents.
  • Se nos olvidaron por completo las llaves del coche.
    We completely forgot the car keys.
  • A menudo se olvida de dónde pone sus gafas.
    She often forgets where she puts her glasses.

💡 Did You Know?

The popular structure 'se me olvidó' is a classic example of the 'accidental se' in Spanish. This construction removes direct responsibility from the speaker, framing the act of forgetting as something that happened passively. It's often preferred over 'yo olvidé' (I forgot) because it sounds less like a personal failing and more like a simple accident.

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "olvidarse"

Synonyms: olvidar, dejar atrás, pasar por alto
Opposites: recordar, acordarse

🔍 See more essential spanish words

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'to forget' in Spanish?
The most common ways to say 'to forget' are 'olvidar' and the pronominal form 'olvidarse'. 'Olvidarse (de)' is frequently used for unintentional forgetting. The structure 'se me olvidó' is also extremely common to express that you forgot something accidentally.
How do you pronounce 'olvidarse' in Spanish?
The pronunciation is 'ol-bee-DAR-seh'. The stress falls on the 'dar' syllable.
How do you use 'olvidarse' in a sentence?
As a pronominal verb, it requires a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se) that agrees with the subject. It is frequently followed by the preposition 'de'. For example: 'Yo me olvido de todo' (I forget everything).
What is the English translation of 'olvidarse'?
The English translation is 'to forget'.
Does 'olvidarse' change for gender or number?
As a verb, 'olvidarse' conjugates for person and number (e.g., 'me olvido', 'se olvidan'), but not for gender. In the 'accidental se' structure, like 'Se me olvidó la tarea', the verb 'olvidar' must agree in number with the object that was forgotten ('se me olvidaron las llaves').
Is 'olvidarse' common in everyday Spanish?
Yes, 'olvidarse' and the related structure 'se me olvidó' are extremely common in daily conversation across the entire Spanish-speaking world.
Does 'olvidarse' have slang or double meanings?
No, it does not have common slang meanings. Figuratively, it can mean 'to stop thinking about' or 'to get over' something, as in 'Olvídense de ese problema' (Forget about that problem).
Is 'olvidarse' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
The usage is very consistent across Spain and Latin America. Both 'olvidar' and 'olvidarse' are used and understood everywhere, with 'olvidarse' and the 'se me olvidó' structure being very common in colloquial speech.
How do you conjugate 'olvidarse' in Spanish?
You conjugate the regular -ar verb 'olvidar' and place the corresponding reflexive pronoun before it. For the present tense: me olvido, te olvidas, se olvida, nos olvidamos, os olvidáis, se olvidan. For the preterite tense: me olvidé, te olvidaste, se olvidó, nos olvidamos, os olvidasteis, se olvidaron.

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