Turn this distinction into automatic recall
Falando teaches Brazilian Portuguese through grammar, vocabulary, audio, examples, and spaced review, so confusing pairs stop feeling like guesses.
Quick answer
Reconhecer often confirms identification, status, or merit. Admitir often concedes a difficult fact or allows entry or possibility.
A reliable test is to identify the job of the word before translating from English.
What each word does
reconhecer
to recognize or acknowledge
Use reconhecer for identifying something known or accepting a fact, merit, right, or responsibility.
admitir
to admit, allow, or hire
Use admitir for conceding a fact, permitting a possibility, or accepting someone into an organization.
How to choose
- reconhecer: Choose reconhecer if the sentence points to identifying something known or accepting a fact, merit, right, or responsibility.
- admitir: Choose admitir if the sentence points to conceding a fact, permitting a possibility, or accepting someone into an organization.
Examples
A empresa reconheceu o erro.
The company acknowledged the error.
Ele admitiu que estava enganado.
He admitted that he was mistaken.
Common trap
The verbs overlap when someone accepts a fact. Check for the other meanings: recognize, acknowledge, hire, allow, or let in.
Practice it in context
Pick one sentence from your real life and write it twice: once with reconhecer, then once with admitir. If both versions feel possible, name the meaning shift.
Turn this distinction into automatic recall
Falando teaches Brazilian Portuguese through grammar, vocabulary, audio, examples, and spaced review, so confusing pairs stop feeling like guesses.