Spanish Word of the Day: Recibir (to receive)

The Spanish verb recibir, meaning to receive in English, is the act of receiving gifts, but its usage has many other meanings that we will look at today. The word comes from the Latin verb recipere, which is composed of the prefix re-, meaning again or back and the verb capere meaning to take or to seize.

Recipere originally meant to take back or to receive, but over time the term has become broader to encompass the idea of accepting or welcoming something, such as a call, an invitation, an idea, or a guest. Therefore, recibir can refer to both tangible and intangible things.

The verb recibir follows the standard Spanish conjugation patterns for verbs ending in -ir.

Recibir mainly refers to physically receiving something from someone. The physical item could be a gift, or any other item or object such as a carta (a letter), una caja (a box), or any other tangible item.

• Recibí un regalo de cumpleaños. = I received a birthday gift.
• Mi hermana recibió una carta de su mejor amiga por correo. = My sister received a letter from her best friend through mail.

The verb can also refer to receiving something intangible, such as a hug, help, a verbal invitation, an idea, information, attention, services, or assistance.

• Ayer recibí una invitación al concierto de Adele. = Yesterday I received an invitation to Adele’s concert.
• Recibí el mejor abrazo del mundo por parte de mi hijo. = I received the best hug in the world from my son.
• Recibí atención médica en el hospital. = I received medical care at the hospital.
• Recibimos ayuda económica para pagar las deudas. = We received economic help to pay our debt.

Let’s dive further into the word recibir regarding receiving información (information). It can refer to receiving information through different outlets. For example, receiving a llamada (call), un mensaje (a message), and receiving noticias (news) verbally in person or through the TV or a similar outlet.

• Recibí un correo electrónico en la madrugada. = I received an email in the early morning.
• Mi papa recibió una multa por exceso de velocidad. = My dad received a fine for speeding.

Often, receiving news is accompanied by a reaction or emotional response, so a sentence will have an adjective following it. For example:

• Recibí las noticias del embarazo con mucha alegría. = I received the news about the pregnancy with lots of joy.
• Recibí su comentario con sorpresa. = I received his comment with surprise.

The verb is also used to talk about welcoming someone or receiving invitados (guests) or visitantes (visitors). It’s the act of hosting and greeting others and welcoming them into your home or to an event.

• La familia recibió a sus invitados con una cena especial. = The family welcomed their guests with a special dinner.
• Para navidad recibiremos a quince personas en nuestra casa. = For Christmas we will receive fifteen people in our home.

Here are some other words related to recibir:

• Recibimiento = a welcome or a reception, usually one that involves receiving something (noun)
• Recibido = received (past participle)
• Recibidor = a receiver, a person that receives (noun)

Spanish idioms featuring ‘recibir’