Meaning and behavior
What does encontrar mean?
Encontrar means to meet. VerbyGo classifies it as an irregular -AR verb. It is non-reflexive.
to find, encounter, come across; to meet, bump into.
Build from reliable parts
Principal forms
- Infinitive
- encontrar
- Gerund
- encontrando
- Past participle
- encontrado
Verified irregular pattern
How this verb behaves
Its forms differ from a fully regular -ar pattern in the present.
Conjugation guide
Present forms
Present forms
Present
Use the present forms of encontrar for current situations, routines and actions that happen regularly.
| Subject | Encontrar |
|---|---|
| yo | encuentro |
| tú | encuentras |
| él / ella / usted | encuentra |
| nosotros / nosotras | encontramos |
| vosotros / vosotras | encontráis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | encuentran |
Conjugation guide
Past forms
Past forms
Preterite
Use the preterite when the action of encontrar is presented as completed in the past.
| Subject | Encontrar |
|---|---|
| yo | encontré |
| tú | encontraste |
| él / ella / usted | encontró |
| nosotros / nosotras | encontramos |
| vosotros / vosotras | encontrasteis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | encontraron |
Past forms
Imperfect past
Use the imperfect for repeated or ongoing past uses of encontrar, or for background information.
| Subject | Encontrar |
|---|---|
| yo | encontraba |
| tú | encontrabas |
| él / ella / usted | encontraba |
| nosotros / nosotras | encontrábamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | encontrabais |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | encontraban |
Conjugation guide
Future and conditional
Future and conditional
Simple future
Use the future forms of encontrar for predictions, promises and future statements.
| Subject | Encontrar |
|---|---|
| yo | encontraré |
| tú | encontrarás |
| él / ella / usted | encontrará |
| nosotros / nosotras | encontraremos |
| vosotros / vosotras | encontraréis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | encontrarán |
Conjugation guide
Subjunctive forms
Subjunctive forms
Present subjunctive
Use these forms when a current wish, reaction, doubt or another trigger requires the subjunctive.
| Subject | Encontrar |
|---|---|
| yo | encuentre |
| tú | encuentres |
| él / ella / usted | encuentre |
| nosotros / nosotras | encontremos |
| vosotros / vosotras | encontréis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | encuentren |
Conjugation guide
Commands
Commands
Affirmative commands
Choose the affirmative command of encontrar that matches the person being addressed.
| Subject | Encontrar |
|---|---|
| tú | encuentra |
| usted | encuentre |
| nosotros / nosotras | encontremos |
| vosotros / vosotras | encontrad |
| ustedes | encuentren |
Commands
Negative commands
Use no with the matching command form of encontrar.
| Subject | Encontrar |
|---|---|
| tú | no encuentres |
| usted | no encuentre |
| nosotros / nosotras | no encontremos |
| vosotros / vosotras | no encontréis |
| ustedes | no encuentren |
Verified context
Examples with encontrar
Lo encontré en el ático.
I found it in the attic.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRLo encontré en la calle.
I found it on the street.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRÉl encontró a sus padres.
He found his parents.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Quick answers
Encontrar FAQ
What does encontrar mean?
Encontrar means to meet.
Is encontrar regular or irregular?
Encontrar is a irregular -AR verb.
What is the gerund of encontrar?
The gerund of encontrar is encontrando.
What is the past participle of encontrar?
The past participle of encontrar is encontrado.
How is encontrar conjugated in the present?
The verified public subject set is encuentro, encuentras, encuentra, encontramos, encuentran.
How is encontrar conjugated in the preterite?
The verified public subject set is encontré, encontraste, encontró, encontramos, encontraron.
Created by Alejandro Ruiz, an experienced Spanish tutor.