ricordava

Ricordava is the imperfect indicative form of the Italian verb ricordare, meaning to remember or to recall. The verb ricordare belongs to the first conjugation (-are) and has standard imperfect forms: io ricordavo, tu ricordavi, lui/lei ricordava, noi ricordavamo, voi ricordavate, loro ricordavano. The form ricordava can also appear in the formal address Lei ricordava when the pronoun Lei is used.

Usage of ricordava indicates a past action that was ongoing, habitual, or background in a narrative. It can express a memory that persisted over a period, a routine of recalling, or a scene-setting moment in which remembering is described. The nuance can include nostalgia or reflective recollection, depending on context.

Etymology and related forms: ricordare derives from Latin recordārī, related to memory and recollection. The root record- appears in several Italian terms connected to remembering or recounting. Related verbs include rammentare (to remind or recall) and ricordarsi (to remember for oneself, often reflexive). Distinctions exist in usage: ricordare generally takes a direct object (to remind/remember someone or something), whereas ricordarsi is used reflexively or with oneself.

See also: ricordare, rammentare, ricordarsi, memoria. Examples: Lui ricordava spesso i giorni della scuola. Lei ricordava che doveva pagare la bolletta. These illustrate the imperfect’s narrative and memory-relating function.