Example: If I recall correctly, the meeting starts at nine.
Definition
"If I recall correctly" is a phrase used to indicate that the speaker is trying to remember something from memory and believes their recollection to be accurate, but there is some uncertainty. It is often used to soften statements or confirm details politely.
Translations
si recuerdo bien
als ik het goed herinner
si recordo bé
si je me souviens bien
wenn ich mich richtig erinnere
Etymology
The phrase "if I recall correctly" combines the conditional 'if' with 'recall,' which comes from the Latin 'recallare,' meaning 'to call back.' It evolved in English to express cautious memory, allowing speakers to hedge statements based on their memory. Did you know? Using 'if I recall correctly' is a polite way to acknowledge the possibility of forgetting or misremembering.
Learn to use this expression actively
"If I recall correctly" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C1) - set 1", containing 130 commonly used expressions.
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