Meaning and behavior
What does colocar mean?
Colocar means to place. VerbyGo classifies it as an irregular -AR verb. It is non-reflexive.
to put; to get in.
Build from reliable parts
Principal forms
- Infinitive
- colocar
- Gerund
- colocando
- Past participle
- colocado
Verified irregular pattern
How this verb behaves
Its forms differ from a fully regular -ar pattern in the preterite.
Conjugation guide
Present forms
Present forms
Present
Use the present forms of colocar for current situations, routines and actions that happen regularly.
| Subject | Colocar |
|---|---|
| yo | coloco |
| tú | colocas |
| él / ella / usted | coloca |
| nosotros / nosotras | colocamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | colocáis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | colocan |
Conjugation guide
Past forms
Past forms
Preterite
Use the preterite when the action of colocar is presented as completed in the past.
| Subject | Colocar |
|---|---|
| yo | coloqué |
| tú | colocaste |
| él / ella / usted | colocó |
| nosotros / nosotras | colocamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | colocasteis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | colocaron |
Past forms
Imperfect past
Use the imperfect for repeated or ongoing past uses of colocar, or for background information.
| Subject | Colocar |
|---|---|
| yo | colocaba |
| tú | colocabas |
| él / ella / usted | colocaba |
| nosotros / nosotras | colocábamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | colocabais |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | colocaban |
Conjugation guide
Future and conditional
Future and conditional
Simple future
Use the future forms of colocar for predictions, promises and future statements.
| Subject | Colocar |
|---|---|
| yo | colocaré |
| tú | colocarás |
| él / ella / usted | colocará |
| nosotros / nosotras | colocaremos |
| vosotros / vosotras | colocaréis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | colocarán |
Conjugation guide
Subjunctive forms
Subjunctive forms
Present subjunctive
Use these forms when a current wish, reaction, doubt or another trigger requires the subjunctive.
| Subject | Colocar |
|---|---|
| yo | coloque |
| tú | coloques |
| él / ella / usted | coloque |
| nosotros / nosotras | coloquemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | coloquéis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | coloquen |
Conjugation guide
Commands
Commands
Affirmative commands
Choose the affirmative command of colocar that matches the person being addressed.
| Subject | Colocar |
|---|---|
| tú | coloca |
| usted | coloque |
| nosotros / nosotras | coloquemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | colocad |
| ustedes | coloquen |
Commands
Negative commands
Use no with the matching command form of colocar.
| Subject | Colocar |
|---|---|
| tú | no coloques |
| usted | no coloque |
| nosotros / nosotras | no coloquemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | no coloquéis |
| ustedes | no coloquen |
Verified context
Examples with colocar
Coloca todas las cajas en su sitio.
Put all the boxes in their place.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR¿Cuándo colocas tu árbol de Navidad?
When do you put up your Christmas tree?
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FREllos colocaron la alfombra en el suelo.
They laid the carpet on the floor.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Quick answers
Colocar FAQ
What does colocar mean?
Colocar means to place.
Is colocar regular or irregular?
Colocar is a irregular -AR verb.
What is the gerund of colocar?
The gerund of colocar is colocando.
What is the past participle of colocar?
The past participle of colocar is colocado.
How is colocar conjugated in the present?
The verified public subject set is coloco, colocas, coloca, colocamos, colocan.
How is colocar conjugated in the preterite?
The verified public subject set is coloqué, colocaste, colocó, colocamos, colocaron.
Created by Alejandro Ruiz, an experienced Spanish tutor.