What does cambiar mean?
cambiar means to change, to shift, to switch, to alter in English. It is a regular -ar verb.
It can also be used with these related meanings: to modify; to switch, to switch up, to change, to trade, to swap (usually + de).
Spanish verb guide
Cambiar Conjugation in Spanish
Learn cambiar, meaning to change, to shift, to switch, to alter, through verified forms and contextual examples.
regular-argerund: cambiandoparticiple: cambiado
Principal forms of cambiar
- Infinitive
- cambiar
- Gerund
- cambiando
- Past participle
- cambiado
Cambiar conjugation table
Compare the present, preterite, imperfect, and future forms. Reflexive pronouns are included where the verb requires them.
| Pronoun | Present | Preterite | Imperfect | Future |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | cambio | cambié | cambiaba | cambiaré |
| tú | cambias | cambiaste | cambiabas | cambiarás |
| él / ella / usted | cambia | cambió | cambiaba | cambiará |
| nosotros/as | cambiamos | cambiamos | cambiábamos | cambiaremos |
| ellos/as / ustedes | cambian | cambiaron | cambiaban | cambiarán |
Pattern notes
- Cambiar follows the regular -ar pattern in the four tenses shown here.
Examples with cambiar
Ella no cambiará de idea.She would not change her mind.Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tomás se cambió de nombre.Tom changed his name.Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
El semáforo cambió a rojo.The traffic light changed to red.Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Practice prompts
- Conjugate cambiar for yo in the present.
- Use the preterite form for ella.
- Say the nosotros/as imperfect form.
- Write a short sentence in the future.
Practice cambiar online
Use VerbyGo for a quick conjugation round with instant feedback and accent checking.