autorreconocerse

To recognize oneself — one's own identity, traits, mistakes, or reflection — used both literally (recognizing your reflection or voice) and figuratively (acknowledging a flaw or identity). Note the double r: the correct spelling per Spanish orthography, since auto- (ending in a vowel) plus reconocer (starting with r) requires rr to keep the strong trilled sound; autoreconocerse, with a single r, is a common misspelling.

• Le costó autorreconocerse en esa vieja fotografía. — It was hard for him to recognize himself in that old photograph.
• Autorreconocerse como alcohólico es el primer paso hacia la recuperación. — Recognizing yourself as an alcoholic is the first step toward recovery.
• Muchas personas tardan años en autorreconocerse tal como son. — Many people take years to recognize themselves as they truly are.

Watch the spelling — autoreconocerse (single r) is a frequent but incorrect variant; the rr is required here, the same as in autorregularse and autorretrato.

Often confused with autoreconocerse.