Reconheço

Reconheço is the first-person singular present indicative form of the Portuguese verb reconhecer, which means to recognize, acknowledge, or admit. It is used to indicate that the speaker identifies a person or thing, accepts a fact, or acknowledges rights, status, or a claim.

Etymology and classification: reconhecer comes from Latin recognoscere, formed from re- “back/again” plus cognoscere “to know.” In the present tense, reconhecer is irregular and yields the distinctive form reconheço for the first person singular. The verb is widely used across Portuguese varieties, with different second-person forms (reconheces, reconhece, reconheces, etc.) depending on regional conventions.

Usage: Reconheço is common in everyday speech and formal contexts alike. Examples include Eu reconheço o meu erro (I acknowledge my error), Reconheço a autoridade desse veredito (I acknowledge the authority of that verdict), and Ela reconhece a importância do seu trabalho (She recognizes the importance of your work). Beyond personal acknowledgment, the verb can express admission of responsibility, recognition of evidence, or formal acknowledgment of rights or status.

Notes: The form and related conjugations vary by dialect. In Brazilian Portuguese, the typical second-person form is você reconhece, while in European Portuguese you might hear tu reconheces or você reconhece. The infinitive of the family is reconhecer; past participle is reconhecido; gerund is reconhecendo.

See also: reconhecer; recognition; cognates in other languages such as Spanish reconocer and English recognize.