Both can translate to 'olvidar', but they point to very different things.
Verb. To fail to remember something. It is about the mind failing to retain information.
I forgot your birthday. I'm sorry.
Olvidé tu cumpleaños. Lo siento.
She forgot the password to her account.
Ella olvidó la contraseña de su cuenta.
Don't forget to call your mother.
No olvides llamar a tu madre.
Verb. To leave something behind in a place when you depart. It is about physical location, not memory.
I left my phone at the restaurant.
Olvidé mi teléfono en el restaurante.
He left his umbrella on the bus.
Él dejó su paraguas en el autobús.
She left her jacket at the office.
Ella dejó su chaqueta en la oficina.
Common mistake
Saying 'I forgot my phone at the restaurant' when it is still physically there. (correct: I left my phone at the restaurant.) 'Forget' is about memory. 'Leave' points to the location.
Trick to remember it
Is the problem in your MIND (you failed to remember)? Use 'forget'. Is the problem about a LOCATION (you left it there)? Use 'leave'. If you can say 'it is at...', use 'leave'.
Quick rule
Did the object stay at a specific location? Use 'leave'. Was it a memory failure with no location mentioned? Use 'forget'.
Did you know?
You can say 'I forgot my phone' (memory failure only, no location). But as soon as you add a location, you must use 'leave': 'I left my phone at the office.' Saying 'I forgot my phone at the office' is one of the most common English errors among Spanish speakers.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
I _____ my wallet at the coffee shop. I need to go back and get it.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
Don't _____ to call me when you arrive!
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Did the object stay at a specific location? Use 'leave'. Was it a memory failure with no location mentioned? Use 'forget'.
Saying 'I forgot my phone at the restaurant' when it is still physically there. (correct: I left my phone at the restaurant.) 'Forget' is about memory. 'Leave' points to the location.
Is the problem in your MIND (you failed to remember)? Use 'forget'. Is the problem about a LOCATION (you left it there)? Use 'leave'. If you can say 'it is at...', use 'leave'.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy