recito

Recito is a term in Spanish that can function as both a verb form and a noun, depending on the context. As a verb, recito is the first-person singular present indicative form of recitar, meaning “I recite.” It is used when someone is performing a recitation, such as verses from a poem, lines in a play, or prayers. The corresponding third-person singular form is recita, and the preterite forms include recité, recitaste, etc.

As a noun, un recito refers to a short recital or a recited piece, typically a poem or brief passage performed aloud. In educational or literary contexts, a recito may be assigned as a simple exercise to practice pronunciation, intonation, and memorization.

Etymology: Recito derives from the Spanish verb recitar, which comes from Latin recitare, formed from citare “to cite, call” with the prefix re-.

Usage: In everyday speech, recito is common in the first-person narrative: “Hoy recito un soneto de Góngora.” In more formal writing, one would usually use the noun form or a description of the act, such as “un recitado” or “la recitación,” rather than relying on the verb form for the noun sense.

Related terms: recitar, recitado (a recited piece or the act of recitation), recitativo (an Italian musical term for the sung speech in opera and oratorio).

Recito is widely used in Spanish-language education, poetry circles, and religious or ceremonial contexts to describe the act of orally delivering verses, prayers, or other texts.