reclamar
/reklaˈmaɾ/
To claim back is to say reclamar in Spanish.
reclamar is used when you want to officially ask for the return of money that you have already paid. Beyond this specific financial context, the verb is also used more broadly to mean to demand something or to complain about something.
How does it change in a sentence?
reclamar is a regular -ar verb in the present tense. If you want to say "I claimed back" in the preterite past tense, use reclamé. To form perfect tenses using the verb haber, use the past participle reclamado.
How do you pronounce it?
/reklaˈmaɾ/
Did you know?
- In Spain, the term hoja de reclamaciones refers to a mandatory official complaint form that every retail establishment must provide to customers by law.
- Using reclamar to describe a person can imply a romantic or possessive desire to 'claim' them as one's own.
- The verb reclamar is a direct descendant of the Latin reclāmāre, which originally meant to cry out or shout loudly. This connection explains why the word today carries a sense of intensity or demand.
Examples in context
- María reclamó la devolución de los impuestos.María claimed back the tax refund.
- Juan logró recuperar su dinero después de un largo proceso legal.Juan managed to claim back his money after a long legal process.
- ¡Finalmente recuperé el dinero que me debías!I finally claimed back the money you owed me!
- Quiero reclamar el dinero que pagué de más.I want to claim back the money I overpaid.
- Voy a reclamar el dinero del seguro.I am going to claim back the insurance money.
- Puedes reclamar los impuestos pagados de más.You can claim back the overpaid taxes.
- Ella quiere reclamar el depósito de la renta.She wants to claim back the rent deposit.
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are discussing a faulty product purchase.
- Sofía¿Puedes reclamar el dinero de la compra?Can you claim back the money from the purchase?
- DanielSí, voy a reclamar el total mañana.Yes, I am going to claim back the total tomorrow.
- SofíaEs una buena idea, Daniel.That is a good idea, Daniel.
- DanielGracias, Sofía, espero que sea fácil.Thanks, Sofía, I hope it is easy.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry reclamar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries reclamar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
