Meaning and behavior
What does existir mean?
Existir means to exist. VerbyGo classifies it as a regular -IR verb. It is non-reflexive.
Build from reliable parts
Principal forms
- Infinitive
- existir
- Gerund
- existiendo
- Past participle
- existido
Regular -IR pattern
How this verb behaves
Existir follows the regular -ir pattern in the four tenses shown here.
Conjugation guide
Present forms
Present forms
Present
Use the present forms of existir for current situations, routines and actions that happen regularly.
| Subject | Existir |
|---|---|
| yo | existo |
| tú | existes |
| él / ella / usted | existe |
| nosotros / nosotras | existimos |
| vosotros / vosotras | existís |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | existen |
Conjugation guide
Past forms
Past forms
Preterite
Use the preterite when the action of existir is presented as completed in the past.
| Subject | Existir |
|---|---|
| yo | existí |
| tú | exististe |
| él / ella / usted | existió |
| nosotros / nosotras | existimos |
| vosotros / vosotras | exististeis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | existieron |
Past forms
Imperfect past
Use the imperfect for repeated or ongoing past uses of existir, or for background information.
| Subject | Existir |
|---|---|
| yo | existía |
| tú | existías |
| él / ella / usted | existía |
| nosotros / nosotras | existíamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | existíais |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | existían |
Conjugation guide
Future and conditional
Future and conditional
Simple future
Use the future forms of existir for predictions, promises and future statements.
| Subject | Existir |
|---|---|
| yo | existiré |
| tú | existirás |
| él / ella / usted | existirá |
| nosotros / nosotras | existiremos |
| vosotros / vosotras | existiréis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | existirán |
Conjugation guide
Subjunctive forms
Subjunctive forms
Present subjunctive
Use these forms when a current wish, reaction, doubt or another trigger requires the subjunctive.
| Subject | Existir |
|---|---|
| yo | exista |
| tú | existas |
| él / ella / usted | exista |
| nosotros / nosotras | existamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | existáis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | existan |
Subjunctive forms
Imperfect subjunctive
Use these forms for past subjunctive contexts and hypothetical structures; the equivalent -se series is also accepted where supplied.
| Subject | Existir |
|---|---|
| yo | existieraAlso accepted: existiese |
| tú | existierasAlso accepted: existieses |
| él / ella / usted | existieraAlso accepted: existiese |
| nosotros / nosotras | existiéramosAlso accepted: existiésemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | existieraisAlso accepted: existieseis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | existieranAlso accepted: existiesen |
Conjugation guide
Commands
Commands
Affirmative commands
Choose the affirmative command of existir that matches the person being addressed.
| Subject | Existir |
|---|---|
| tú | existe |
| usted | exista |
| nosotros / nosotras | existamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | existid |
| ustedes | existan |
Commands
Negative commands
Use no with the matching command form of existir.
| Subject | Existir |
|---|---|
| tú | no existas |
| usted | no exista |
| nosotros / nosotras | no existamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | no existáis |
| ustedes | no existan |
Verified context
Examples with existir
¿Los fantasmas existen de verdad?
Do ghosts really exist?
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRExisten escasos pintores como Picasso.
Such painters as Picasso are rare.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRExiste una pequeña posibilidad de recaída.
There's a slight possibility of a recurrence.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Quick answers
Existir FAQ
What does existir mean?
Existir means to exist.
Is existir regular or irregular?
Existir is a regular -IR verb.
What is the gerund of existir?
The gerund of existir is existiendo.
What is the past participle of existir?
The past participle of existir is existido.
How is existir conjugated in the present?
The verified public subject set is existo, existes, existe, existimos, existen.
How is existir conjugated in the preterite?
The verified public subject set is existí, exististe, existió, existimos, existieron.
Created by Alejandro Ruiz, an experienced Spanish tutor.