Spanish Irregular Verbs
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Spanish Irregular Verbs
Spanish Irregular Verbs
In Spanish there are regular, semiregular and irregular verbs. We already know regular verbs. Semiregular verbs are verbs having slight modifications in their spelling, just so that they can sound phonetically easy to pronounce, like the verb pagar (to pay) yo pago (I pay), in the past instead of writing yo pagé, we added a (u) after the g so that it would still sound [g] like in pago I bought= yo pagué, and not like [j] if we wrote pagé. Irregular verbs are verbs which don't follow standard rules of conjugation in the different verb tenses. The bad news is that they're the most used verbs. So you need to focus on them more, the good news is that you can become familiar with them easily. We will deal with semiregular and irregular as a one subject, because semiregular verbs are considered somehow irregular too.
Here we will go through types of irregularity:
-First person singular present with g: decir (to say), I say= digo. caer (to fall), I fall= caigo. hacer (to do), I do= hago. salir (to go out), I go out= salgo...
-First person present g changes to j: escoger (to choose), I choose= escojo. corrigir (to correct), I correct= corrijo.
-Stem changes in the third person singular present (e -> ie): negar (to deny), he denies= niega. cerrar (to close), he closes= cierra. pensar (to think), he thinks=piensa
-Stem changes in the third person singular present (o -> ue): jugar (to play), he plays= juega. mostrar (to show), he shows= muestra. dormir (to sleep),he sleeps=duerme
-Stem changes in the third person singular present (e -> i): decir (to say), he says= dice. medir (to measure), he measures= mide.
-When we add an e to the last letter of the stem c then (c -> qu): platicar (to chat), I chatted= platiqué.
-When we add an e to the last letter of the stem z then (z-> c): lanzar (to throw) I threw= lancé.
-When we add an a or o to the last letter of the stem c then (c ->zc): conocer (to know) I know= conozco.
These are some common irregular verbs in Spanish (check the table below to see how they are conjugated): abrir, andar, caer, cerrar, conocer, creer, dar, decir, dormir, empezar, encontrar, escoger, estoy, hacer, ir, jugar, leer, llegar, mirar, oír, olvidar, pagar, pedir, pensar, perder, poder, poner, quedar, querer, saber, sacar, salir, seguir, sentir, ser, tener, traer, valer, venir, ver, volver.
200 Common Irregular Verbs in Spanish
This is a list of about 200 common irregular verbs in Spanish, and the rules they follow. You will also find some verbs that don't follow any pattern; unfortunately, they're usually the most used verbs.
List of Spanish Irregular Verbs: |
When the last syllable is a vowel (u -> ú) |
|
acentuar (to stress/ to accent) |
actuar (to act) |
conceptuar (to consider/ to judge) |
continuar (to continue) |
extenuar (to exhaust/ to drain) |
insinuar (to insinuate) |
perpetuar (to perpetuate) |
|
When the last syllable is a vowel (i -> í) |
|
fotografiar (to take a photograph of) |
agriar (to turn sour) |
confiar (to confide) |
criar (to breed) |
desvariar (to be delirious/ to talk nonsense) |
enviar (to send) |
espiar (to spy on) |
esquiar (to ski) |
liar (to tie up/ to wrap/ to roll) |
|
When we add an e to the last letter of the stem c then (c -> qu) |
|
platicar (to chat) |
mascar (to chew) |
electrificar (to electrify) |
clarificar (to clarify) |
aparcar (to park/ to shelf) |
suplicar (to plead) |
justificar (to justify) |
blocar (to block) |
complicar (to complicate) |
cualificar (to qualify) |
certificar (to confirm) |
edificar (to build) |
fabricar (to manufacture/ to build/ to make) |
explicar (to explain) |
falsificar (to forge) |
intensificar (to intensify) |
marcar (to mark) |
mascar (to chew) |
picar (to bite) |
provocar (to incite) |
refrescar (to refresh/ to chill) |
sacar (to take out) |
tocar (to touch/ to play on an instrument) |
unificar (to unite) |
|
When we add an e to the last letter of the stem z then (z-> c) |
|
aterrorizar (to terrorize) |
abrazar (to embrace) |
amordazar (to gag/ muzzle) |
adelgazar (to lose weight) |
aterrizar (to land) |
analizar (to analyze) |
alcanzar (to reach) |
civilizar (to civilize) |
alzar (to lift/ raise/ hoist) |
cazar (to hunt) |
cotizar (to quote/ to price) |
generalizar (to spread/ to generalize) |
gozar (to enjoy) |
lanzar (to throw/ to fling) |
memorizar (to memorize) |
punzar (to prick/ to stab) |
rozar (to rub/ to brush/ to graze) |
utilizar (to use) |
When we add an a or o to the last letter of the stem g then (g -> j) |
|
escoger (to choose) |
acoger (to welcome/ take in/ receive) |
coger (to take) |
encoger (to shrink) |
recoger (to pick up) |
|
When we add an e to the last letter of the stem g then (g ->gu) |
|
castigar (to punish) |
agregar (to add) |
apagar (to put out/ to put off/ to extinguish) |
chocar (to crash) |
fatigar (to tire/ to weary) |
halagar (to flatter) |
juzgar (to judge) |
llegar (to arrive) |
madrugar (to get up early) |
tragar (to swallow) |
|
When we have an e in an accented syllable then (e -> ie) |
|
alentar (to encourage) |
atender (to attend to) |
calentar (to heat up/ to warm up) |
comenzar (to start/ to begin) |
confesar (to confess) |
defender (to defend/ to stand up for) |
descender (to go down) |
despertar (to wake/ to arouse) |
empezar (to begin/ to start) |
encender (to light/ to inflame) |
encerrar (to shut up/ to shut in) |
extender (to stretch out) |
mentar (to mention) |
pensar (to think) |
perder (to lose) |
quebrar (to break) |
sentar (to sit/ to seat) |
|
When an o occurs in a stressed syllable then (o -> ue) |
|
acordar (hacer algo) (to agree to do something) |
acostarse (to go to bed) |
aprobar (to approve) |
concordar (to agree/ to reconcile) |
contar (to count/ to tell) |
costar (to cost) |
desaprobar (to disapprove of/ to reject) |
descontar (to deduct) |
encontrar (to find/ to encounter) |
engrosar (to swell) |
mostrar (to show) |
recordar (to remember) |
tronar (to thunder) |
devolver algo (to give something back) |
disolver (to dissolve/ to break up) |
doler (to hurt) |
envolver (to wrap up/ to wind) |
llover (to rain) |
morder (to bite/ to eat into) |
|
When an o occurs in a stressed syllable then (o -> ue) or (o -> u) |
|
dormir (to put to bed) |
dormirse (to go to bed) |
morir (to die) |
|
When an o occurs in a stressed syllable then (e -> ie) or (e -> i) |
|
consentir (to allow/ to permit) |
digerir (to digest/ to assimilate) |
divertir (to entertain/ to amuse) |
hervir (to boil) |
invertir (to reverse/ to invert) |
mentir (to lie) |
preferir (to prefer) |
referir (to tell/ recount) |
|
No pattern followed for this verbs whose e becomes I (e -> i) |
|
henchir (to fill/ to fill up) |
expedir (to send/ to dispatch/ to issue) |
impedir (to prevent) |
pedir (to ask for/ to order) |
|
When we add an a or o to the last letter of the stem c then (c ->zc) |
|
agradecer (to thank) |
amanecer (to dawn) |
compareceer (to appear) |
aparecer (to appear/ show up) |
crecer (to grow) |
decrecer (to decrease/ to decline) |
conocer (to know) |
|
When we add an (a/ e/ o) then (u -> ü) |
|
aguar (to water down) |
apaciguar (to calm down) |
atestiguar (to testify to) |
averiguar (to find out) |
fraguar (to forge) |
|
No pattern followed here (ui->uy) |
|
construir (to build/ manufacture) |
confluir (to converge/ to meet) |
contribuir (to contribute) |
derruir (to demolish/ to knock down) |
destituir (to dismiss) |
destruir (to destroy/ to wreck/ to demolish) |
diluir (to dilute) |
disminuir (to reduce/ to decrease) |
distribuir (to distribute) |
fluir (to flow) |
incluir (to include) |
influir (to influence) |
reconstruir (to rebuild/ to reconstruct) |
rehuir (to avoid) |
|
Miscellaneous Irregular verbs (usually no pattern followed) |
|
andar (to walk) |
desandar (to go back over/ to retrace the trail) |
caer (to fall) |
recaer (to relapse) |
dar (to give) |
decir (to say) |
estar (to be ) |
deshacer (to undo/ to unpack/ to destroy) |
hacer (to do/ to make) |
rehacer (to do again/ to rebuild) |
satisfacer (to satisfy/ to quench) |
ir (to go) |
oír (to hear) |
poder (to be able to) |
querer (to want) |
saber (to know) |
salir (to go out) |
prevaler (to prevail) |
valer (to value) |
|
Traer family |
|
contraer (to contract/ to acquire/ catch) |
distraer (to amuse/ to entertain) |
extraer (to extract) |
maltraer (to maltreat) |
traer (to bring) |
|
Tener family |
|
abstenerse (to abstain) |
contener (to contain/ to restrain/ to hold back) |
detener (to arrest/ to stop/ to hold up/ to delay) |
obtener (to get/ to win) |
sostener (to support) |
|
Venir family |
|
convenir (to be suitable) |
devenir en (to become/ to turn into) |
intervenir (to take part/ to get involved) |
prevenir (to prevent) |
provenir de (to come from) |
Smart List of Irregular Verbs in Spanish
This list contains most of the common modifications that occur to verbs, it may seem confusing, but this is the easiest way to learn how a verb is modified, especially once you get used to the table.
-Underlined words: refer to the stem of a verb; the root of the verb that you should keep, and modify only what comes after that stem.
-Words in bold: means that the word is conjugated in an irregular way and maybe that was the reason why it was put in this irregular list.
-Abbreviations: (pr part= present participle), (pa part= past participle), (Imperative has two conjugations in this table the first one is for tú, the second word is for él).
Spanish Irregular Verbs |
|||||||
Verb |
Pr Part * |
Pa Part * |
Present |
Preterite |
Imperfect |
Future |
Imperative * |
abrir |
abriendo |
abierto |
abro,es,e,imos,en |
abrí,iste,ió,imos,ieron |
abría,s,-,mos,n |
abriré,ás,á,emos,án |
abre,abra |
andar |
andando |
andado |
ando,as,a,amos,an |
anduve,iste,o,imos,ieron |
andaba,s,-,mos,n |
andaré,ás,á,emos,án |
anda,andad |
caer |
cayendo |
caído |
caigo,caes,-,mos,n |
caí,ste,cayo,mos,cayeron |
caía,s,-,mos,n |
caeré,ás,á,emos,án |
cae,caiga |
cerrar |
cerrando |
cerrado |
cierro,as,a,cerramos,an |
cerré,aste,ó,amos,aron |
cerraba,s,-,mos,n |
cerraré,ás,á,emos,án |
cierra,cierre |
conocer |
conociendo |
conocido |
conozco,es,e,mos,en |
conocí,iste,ió,imos,ieron |
conocía,s,-,mos,n |
conoceré,ás,á,emos,án |
conoce,zca |
creer |
creyendo |
creíndo |
creo,es,e,emos,en, |
creí,ste,creyó,mos,creyeron |
creía,s,-,mos,n |
creeré,ás,á,emos,án |
cree,crea |
dar |
dando |
dado |
doy,das,a,mos,n |
di,ste,o,mos,eron |
daba,s,-,mos,n |
daré,ás,á,emos,án |
da,dad |
decir |
diciendo |
dicho |
digo,dices,-,decimos,n |
dije,iste,o,imos,eron |
decía,s,-,mos,n |
diré,ás.á,emos,án |
di,decid |
dormir |
durmiendo |
dormido |
duermo,es,e,o-imos,en |
dormí,iste,durmió,imos,u-ieron |
dormía,s,-,mos,n |
dormiré,ás,á,emos,án |
duerme,dormid |
empezar |
empezando |
empezado |
empiezo,as,a,ezamos,n |
empecé,empezaste,ó,amos,aron |
empezaba,s,-,mos,n |
empezaré,ás,á,emos,án |
empieza,ce |
escoger |
esogiendo |
escogido |
escojo,ges,e,gemos,gen |
escogí,iste,ió,imos,ieron |
escogía,s,-,mos,n |
Escogeré,ás,á,emos,án |
Escoge,escoja |
encontrar |
encontrando |
encontado |
encuentro,as,a,o-mos,an |
encontré,aste,ó,amos,aron |
encontaba,s,-,mos,n |
encontré,ás,á,emos,án |
encuentra,e |
escribir |
escribiendo |
escrito |
escribo,es,e,imos,en |
escribí,iste,ió,imos,ieron |
escribía,s,-,mos,n |
escribiré,ás,á,emos,án |
escribe,escriba |
estoy |
estando |
estado |
estoy,as,a,amos,an |
estuve,iste,o,imos,ieron |
estaba,s,-,amos,an |
estaré,ás,á,emos,án |
esta,estad |
hacer |
haciendo |
hecho |
hago,haces,-,mos,n, |
hice,iste,hizo,imos,ieron |
hacía,s,-,mos,n |
haré,ás,á,emos,án |
haz,haced |
ir |
yendo |
ido |
voy,vas,a,mos,n |
fui,iste,e,imos,eron |
iba,s,-,mos,n |
iré,ás,á,emos,án |
ve,id |
jugar |
jugando |
jugado |
juego,as,a,jugamos,an |
jugué,aste,ó,amos,aron |
jugaba,s,-,mos,n |
jugaré,ás,á,emos,án |
juega,juegue |
leer |
leyendo |
leído |
leo,es,e,emos,en |
leí,ste,leyó,mos,leyeron |
leía,s,-,mos,n |
leeré,ás,á,emos,án |
lee,lea |
llegar |
llegando |
llegado |
llego,as,a,amos,an |
llegué,llegaste,ó,amos,aron |
llegaba,s,-,mos,n |
llegaré,ás,á,emos,án |
llega,llegue |
mirar |
mirando |
mirado |
miro,as,s,amos,an |
miré,aste,ó,amos,aron |
miraba,s,-,mos,n |
miraré,ás,á,emos,án |
mira,mire |
oír |
oyendo |
oído |
oigo,oyes,-,oímos,n |
oí,ste,oyo,mos,oyeron |
oía,s,-,mos,n |
oiré,ás,á,emos,án |
oye,oíd |
olvidar |
olvidando |
olvidado |
olvido,as,a,amos |
olvidé,aste,ó,amos,aron |
olvidaba,s,-,mos,n |
olvidaré,ás,á,emos,án |
olvida,olvide |
pedir |
pidiendo |
pedido |
pido,es,e,pedimos,piden |
pedí,iste,pidió,imos,pidieron |
pedía,s,-,mos,n |
pediré,ás,á,emos,án |
pide,pida |
pagar |
pagando |
pagado |
Pago,as,a,amos,an |
Pagué,aste,ó,amos,aron |
Pagaba,s,-,mos,n |
Pagaré,ás,á,emos,án |
Paga, pague |
pensar |
pensando |
pensado |
pienso,as,a,pensamos,an |
pensé,aste,ó,amos,aron |
pensaba,s,-,mos,n |
pensaré,ás,á,emos,án |
piensa,piense |
perder |
perdiendo |
pedrido |
pierdo,es,e,perdemos,en |
perdí,iste,ió,imos,ieron |
perdía,s,-,mos,n |
perderé,ás,á,emos,.án |
pierde,pierda |
poder |
podiendo |
podido |
puedo,es,e,podemos,en |
pude,iste,o,imos,ieron |
podía,s,-,mos,n |
podré,ás,á,emos,án |
puede,pueda |
poner |
poniendo |
puesto |
pongo,pones,-,mos,en |
puse,iste,o,imos,ieron |
ponía,s,-mos,n |
pondré,ás,á,emos,án |
pon,poned |
quedar |
quedando |
quedado |
quedo,as,a,amos,an |
quedé,aste,ó,amos,aron |
quedaba,s,-,mos,n |
quedaré,ás,á,emos,án |
queda,quede |
querer |
queriendo |
querido |
quiero,es,e,queremos,en |
quise,iste,o,imos,ieron |
quería,s,-,mos,n |
querré,ás,á,emos,án |
quiere,quered |
saber |
sabiendo |
sabido |
sé, sabes,-,mos,en |
supe,iste,o,imos,ieron |
sabía,s,-,mos,n |
sabré,ás,á,emos,án |
sabe,sabed |
sacar |
sacando |
sacado |
saco,as,a,amos,an |
saque, sacaste,ó,amos,aron |
sacaba,s,-,mos,n |
sacaré,ás,á,emos,án |
saca,saque |
salir |
saliendo |
salido |
salgo, sales,e,imos,en |
salí,iste,ío,imos,ieron |
salía,s,-,mos,n |
saldré,ás,á,emos,án |
sal,salga |
seguir |
siguiendo |
seguido |
sigo,ues,ue,seguimos,uen |
seguí,iste,siguió,imos,siguieron |
seguía,s,-,mos,n |
seguiré,ás,á,emos,án |
sigue,siga |
sentir |
sintiendo |
sentido |
siento,es,e,sentimos,en |
sentí,iste,sintió,imos,sintieron |
sentía,s,-,mos,n |
sentiré,ás,á,emos,án |
siente,sienta |
ser |
siendo |
sido |
soy,eres,es,somos,son |
fui,iste,e,imos,eron |
era,s,-,mos,n |
seré,ás,á,emos,án |
sé, sed |
tener |
teniendo |
tenido |
tengo,tienes,-,tenemos,n |
tuve,iste,o,imos,ieron |
tenía,s,-,mos,n |
tendré,ás,á,emos,án |
ten,tened |
traer |
trayendo |
traído |
traigo,traes,-,mos,n |
traje,iste,o,imos,ieron |
traía,s,-,mos,n |
traeré,ás,á,emos,án |
trae,traed |
valer |
valiendo |
valido |
valgo,vales,e,emos,en |
valí,iste,ió,imos,ieron |
valía,s,-,mos,n |
valdré,ás,á,emos,án |
vale/val,valga |
venir |
viniendo |
venido |
vengo,vienes,-,venimos,n |
vine,iste,o,imos,ieron |
venía,s,-,mos,n |
vendré,ás,á,emos,án |
ven,venga |
ver |
viendo |
visto |
veo,s,-,mos,n |
vi,ste,o,mos,eron |
veía,s,-,mos,n |
veré,ás,á,emos,án |
ve,vea |
volver |
volviendo |
vuelto |
vuelvo,es,e,volvemos,en |
volví,iste,ió,imos,ieron |
volvía,s,-,mos,n |
volveré,ás,á,emos,án |
vuelve,vuelva |