Irregular verbs in Spanish are the verbs whose stem or “root” changes with conjugation and have no common conjugation pattern. While many of the most common verbs are irregular, this group accounts for a small minority of all verbs in Spanish.
Both the stem (pensar, hacer, decir) and the verb ending (-ar, -er, -ir) of irregular verbs may change, depending on verb tense and grammatical person. For example:
| yo estoy I am | yo doy I give | yo pienso I think |
| yo fui I was | yo hice I did | yo tuve I had |
| yo iré I will go | yo vendré I will come | yo diré I will say |
Irregular verbs may have variations in one or all verb tenses, by adding or removing vowels and/or consonants in the stem, the ending or both:
- Stem-changing verbs.
For example: tiene (tener), conduzcas (conducir), traigo (traer). - Verbs with irregular endings.
For example: doy (dar), creyó (creer), leyó (leer). - Stem-changing verbs with irregular endings.
For example: estuvo (estar), dije (decir), pude (poder). - Verbs with no conjugation forms with certain pronouns or in certain verb tenses.
For example: llueve (llover), anocheció (anochecer), suelo (soler).
In contrast, regular verbs follow a common conjugation pattern after hablar (to speak), comer (to eat), and vivir (to live). The stem of regular verbs always remains unchanged, with only the verb ending (-ar, -er, -ir) changing with conjugation. For example:
| yo hablo I speak | yo canto I sing | yo amo I love |
| yo comí I ate | yo bebí I drank | yo corrí I run |
| yo viviré I will live | yo abriré I will open | yo partiré I will leave |
Quick tip: A verb ending in -ar, -er, or -ir indicates it is in its infinitive, non-conjugated form.
100+ most common irregular verbs in Spanish
| Irregular -ar verbs | Irregular -er verbs | Irregular -ir verbs |
|---|---|---|
| acertar get right | atender attend to | competir compete |
| acostar go to bed | caber fit | conducir drive, lead to |
| aislar isolate | carecer lack | conseguir get |
| almorzar have lunch | complacer please | construir build |
| andar ride, work | conocer know | contradecir contradict |
| aprobar pass, approve | convencer convince | corregir correct |
| calentar heat, warm up | defender defend | decir say |
| cerrar close | deshacer undo | deducir deduce |
| colgar hang | devolver give back | distribuir distribute |
| comenzar begin | distraer distract | dormir sleep |
| contar tell | enriquecer enrich, become rich | freír fry |
| costar cost | entender understand | hervir boil |
| dar give | haber be, have | impedir prevent |
| demostrar prove | hacer do | incluir include |
| despertar wake | leer read | introducir introduce |
| desviar divert | llover rain | invertir invest |
| empezar start | mantener keep | intervenir intervene |
| encerrar lock up | moler grind | ir go |
| encontrar find | morder bite | medir measure |
| errar miss | mover move | mentir lie |
| estar be | nacer be born | morir die |
| forzar force | obtener obtain | oír hear |
| gobernar govern | oler smell | pedir ask for |
| jugar play | perder lose, miss | perseguir pursue |
| merendar have a snack | poder be able to | predecir predict |
| mostrar show | poner put | prevenir prevent |
| negar deny | poseer own | prohibir ban |
| nevar snow | proveer provide | recluir confine |
| pensar think | querer want | reducir reduce |
| probar prove, try | rehacer redo | reír laugh |
| pudrir rot | resolver solve | rendir perform, yield |
| recomendar recommend | saber know | repetir repeat |
| recordar remember | satisfacer satisfy | salir leave |
| rehusar refuse, decline | ser be | seguir follow |
| rodar roll | sostener hold | sentir feel |
| rogar beg | tender hang up, tend to | servir serve |
| sentar sit | tener have | sugerir suggest |
| soltar let go of, release | torcer twist | traducir translate |
| soñar dream | traer bring | venir come |
| volar fly | volver come back | vestir dress, wear |
How to conjugate irregular verbs in Spanish
Irregular verbs have no common conjugation pattern, which means there are no common conjugation rules. While certain verbs show a number of similarities, some of the most common verbs in the language have a conjugation unique to themselves. Among the latter are:
1. Ser (to be)
The verb ser is irregular in all pronouns and verb tenses, except the future simple.
Ser is used for permanent states (as opposed to estar, which is used for temporary states).
| Subject pronoun | Present tense | Preterite tense | Imperfect tense | Future tense |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo (I) | soy | fui | era | seré |
| tú (you) | eres | fuiste | eras | serás |
| él, ella (he, she) usted (formal you) | es | fue | era | será |
| nosotros/as (we) | somos | fuimos | éramos | seremos |
| vosotros/as (plural you) | sois | fuisteis | erais | seréis |
| ellos, ellas (they) ustedes (plural you) | son | fueron | eran | serán |
Ella es de España.
She’s from Spain.
Son las 4 en punto.
It's 4 o’clock.
2. Estar (to be)
The conjugation of estar is irregular in the present and preterite tenses. In the present tense, the nosotros and vosotros pronouns have no change.
Estar is used for temporary states (as opposed to ser, which is used for permanent states).
| Subject pronoun | Present tense | Preterite tense | Imperfect tense | Future tense |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo (I) | estoy | estuve | estaba | estaré |
| tú (you) | estás | estuviste | estabas | estarás |
| él, ella (he, she) usted (formal you) | está | estuvo | estaba | estará |
| nosotros/as (we) | estamos | estuvimos | estábamos | estaremos |
| vosotros/as (plural you) | estáis | estuvisteis | estabais | estaréis |
| ellos, ellas (they) ustedes (plural you) | están | estuvieron | estaban | estarán |
Estoy en la escuela.
I’m at school.
¿Estás cansado?
Are you tired?
3. Ir (to go)
The conjugation of ir is irregular in all pronouns in the present, preterite and imperfect tenses.
| Subject pronoun | Present tense | Preterite tense | Imperfect tense | Future tense |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo (I) | voy | fui | iba | iré |
| tú (you) | vas | fuiste | ibas | irás |
| él, ella (he, she) usted (formal you) | va | fue | iba | irá |
| nosotros/as (we) | vamos | fuimos | íbamos | iremos |
| vosotros/as (plural you) | vais | fuisteis | ibais | iréis |
| ellos, ellas (they) ustedes (plural you) | van | fueron | iban | irán |
Voy al trabajo en autobús.
I go to work by bus.
¿Vas a la fiesta con tus amigos?
Are you going to the party with your friends?
4. Venir (to come)
The conjugation of venir is irregular in the present, preterite and future tenses.
| Subject pronoun | Present tense | Preterite tense | Imperfect tense | Future tense |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo (I) | vengo | vine | venía | vendré |
| tú (you) | vienes | viniste | venías | vendrás |
| él, ella (he, she) usted (formal you) | viene | vino | venía | vendrá |
| nosotros/as (we) | venimos | vinimos | veníamos | vendremos |
| vosotros/as (plural you) | venís | vinisteis | veníais | vendréis |
| ellos, ellas (they) ustedes (plural you) | vienen | vinieron | venían | vendrán |
¿Vienes con nosotros?
Are you coming with us?
Vine por ti.
I came for you.
Other verbs with the same conjugation pattern include: intervenir (intervene), convenir (agree to), prevenir (prevent).
5. Querer (to want)
The conjugation of querer is irregular in all verb tenses except the imperfect.
| Subject pronoun | Present tense | Preterite tense | Imperfect tense | Future tense |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo (I) | quiero | quise | quería | querré |
| tú (you) | quieres | quisiste | querías | querrás |
| él, ella (he, she) usted (formal you) | quiere | quiso | quería | querrá |
| nosotros/as (we) | queremos | quisimos | queríamos | querremos |
| vosotros/as (plural you) | queréis | quisisteis | queríais | querréis |
| ellos, ellas (they) ustedes (plural you) | quieren | quisieron | querían | querrán |
¿Quieres más café?
Do you want some more coffee?
Quiero tu apoyo.
I want your support.
Other verbs with a similar conjugation pattern include: perder (lose, miss), tender (hang up), atender (attend to).
6. Tener (to have)
The conjugation of tener is irregular in all pronouns and tenses, with the exception of the imperfect tense.
| Subject pronoun | Present tense | Preterite tense | Imperfect tense | Future tense |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo (I) | tengo | tuve | tenía | tendré |
| tú (you) | tienes | tuviste | tenías | tendrás |
| él, ella (he, she) usted (formal you) | tiene | tuvo | tenía | tendrá |
| nosotros/as (we) | tenemos | tuvimos | teníamos | tendremos |
| vosotros/as (plural you) | tenéis | tuvisteis | teníais | tendréis |
| ellos, ellas (they) ustedes (plural you) | tienen | tuvieron | tenían | tendrán |
Tengo un perro y un gato.
I have a dog and a cat.
¿Tienes hermanos?
Do you have any brothers or sisters?
7. Dar (to give)
The conjugation of the verb dar is irregular in the present and preterite tenses.
| Subject pronoun | Present tense | Preterite tense | Imperfect tense | Future tense |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo (I) | doy | di | daba | daré |
| tú (you) | das | diste | dabas | darás |
| él, ella (he, she) usted (formal you) | da | dio | daba | dará |
| nosotros/as (we) | damos | dimos | dábamos | daremos |
| vosotros/as (plural you) | dais | disteis | dabais | daréis |
| ellos, ellas (they) ustedes (plural you) | dan | dieron | daban | darán |
¿Te doy una mano con tu tarea?
Can I give you a hand with your homework?
Les dieron dos billetes gratis.
They were given two free tickets.
8. Hacer (to do)
The conjugation of hacer is irregular in all pronouns in the preterite and future tenses. In the present tense, only the first person singular conjugation is irregular.
| Subject pronoun | Present tense | Preterite tense | Imperfect tense | Future tense |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo (I) | hago | hice | hacía | haré |
| tú (you) | haces | hiciste | hacías | harás |
| él, ella (he, she) usted (formal you) | hace | hizo | hacía | hará |
| nosotros/as (we) | hacemos | hicimos | hacíamos | haremos |
| vosotros/as (plural you) | hacéis | hicisteis | hacíais | haréis |
| ellos, ellas (they) ustedes (plural you) | hacen | hicieron | hacían | harán |
María siempre hace un buen trabajo.
María always does a good job.
Hago lo que puedo.
I do what I can.
Other -er verbs with the same conjugation pattern include: satisfacer (satisfy), deshacer (undo), rehacer (redo).
9. Poder (be able to)
The conjugation of poder is irregular in all verb tenses except the imperfect.
| Subject pronoun | Present tense | Preterite tense | Imperfect tense | Future tense |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo (I) | puedo | pude | podía | podré |
| tú (you) | puedes | pudiste | podías | podrás |
| él, ella (he, she) usted (formal you) | puede | pudo | podía | podrá |
| nosotros/as (we) | podemos | pudimos | podíamos | podremos |
| vosotros/as (plural you) | podéis | pudisteis | podíais | podréis |
| ellos, ellas (they) ustedes (plural you) | pueden | pudieron | podían | podrán |
¿Puedes ayudarme, por favor?
Can you help me, please?
No puedo resolver este ejercicio.
I can’t solve this exercise.
Other -er verbs with a similar conjugation pattern include: volver (come back), mover (move), devolver (give back), resolver (solve).
10. Saber (to know)
The conjugation of saber has irregular forms in all verb tenses except the imperfect tense.
| Subject pronoun | Present tense | Preterite tense | Imperfect tense | Future tense |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo (I) | sé | supe | sabía | sabré |
| tú (you) | sabes | supiste | sabías | sabrás |
| él, ella (he, she) usted (formal you) | sabe | supo | sabía | sabrá |
| nosotros/as (we) | sabemos | supimos | sabíamos | sabremos |
| vosotros/as (plural you) | sabéis | supisteis | sabíais | sabréis |
| ellos, ellas (they) ustedes (plural you) | saben | supieron | sabían | sabrán |
No sé quién es él.
I don’t know who he is.
¿Sabes tocar el piano?
Can you play the piano?
Other verbs with a similar conjugation pattern include: caber (fit), haber (have, auxiliary verb).
Sentences with irregular verbs in Spanish
Juan no se siente bien hoy. (sentir)
Juan isn’t feeling well today.
Pido silencio, por favor. (pedir)
I request silence, please.
Todavía no conozco a tu novio. (conocer)
I haven’t met your boyfriend yet.
El niño supo todas las respuestas. (saber)
The boy knew all the answers.
¿Puedo preguntarte algo? (poder)
Can I ask you something?
Hice mi tarea hoy más temprano. (hacer)
I did my homework earlier today.
¿Vas a la fiesta esta noche? (ir)
Are you going to the party tonight?
Soy de Buenos Aires, Argentina. (ser)
I’m from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Les doy todo mi apoyo. (dar)
I give you all my support.
Mi hermano salió por la puerta trasera. (salir)
My brother left through the back door.
El abuelo siempre cuenta anécdotas divertidas. (contar)
Grandpa always tells funny stories.
No defiendas lo que no es justo. (defender)
Don’t defend what’s not fair.
Esta es la primera vez que almuerzo en este restaurante. (almorzar)
This is the first time I’ve had lunch at this restaurant.
Nunca acierto en ninguna previsión. (acertar)
I never get any forecast right.
Nuestra empresa invierte mucho en tecnología. (invertir)
Our company invests a lot in technology.
Siempre digo la verdad. (decir)
I always tell the truth.
El jefe estuvo en la oficina todo el día ayer. (estar)
The boss was out of the office all day yesterday.
Mis amigos vendrán a casa más tarde. (venir)
My friends are coming over later today.
Mañana tendremos una importante noticia para dar. (tener)
Tomorrow we’ll have some important news to share.
Éramos muy felices en la casa de playa. (ser)
We were very happy at the beach house.
Irregular verbs by categories
A number of irregular verbs can be grouped according to similarities in their irregularities and conjugation patterns. The most common stem changes include:
e → ie
The stem changes from e to ie, affecting the conjugation of certain pronouns in the present tense of the indicative and subjunctive moods, as well as the imperative. Verbs belonging to this category are conjugated following the pattern below:
Sentir (to feel)
| Pronoun | Present indicative |
|---|---|
| yo (I) | siento |
| tú (you) | sientes |
| él, ella (he, she) usted (formal you) | siente |
| nosotros/as (we) | sentimos |
| vosotros/as (plural you) | sentís |
| ellos, ellas (they) ustedes (plural you) | sienten |
Other verbs with the same conjugation pattern include: entender (understand), pensar (think), recomendar (recommend), sugerir (suggest), perder (lose, miss), mentir (lie), negar (deny), adquirir (acquire), empezar (start), cerrar (close).
o → ue
The stem changes from o to ue, affecting the conjugation of certain pronouns in the present tense of the indicative and subjunctive moods, as well as the imperative. Verbs belonging to this category are conjugated following the pattern below:
| Pronoun | Present indicative |
|---|---|
| yo (I) | duermo |
| tú (you) | duermes |
| él, ella (he, she) usted (formal you) | duerme |
| nosotros/as (we) | dormimos |
| vosotros/as (plural you) | dormís |
| ellos, ellas (they) ustedes (plural you) | duermen |
Other verbs with a similar conjugation pattern include: rogar (beg), contar (tell), costar (cost), doler (hurt), dormir (sleep), encontrar (find), llover (rain), morir (die), recordar (remember), volver (come back).
e → i
The stem changes from e to i, affecting the conjugation of certain pronouns in the present and preterite tenses of the indicative mood, and the present and imperfect subjunctive, as well as the imperative. Verbs belonging to this category are conjugated following the pattern below:
| Pronoun | Present indicative |
|---|---|
| yo (I) | compito |
| tú (you) | compites |
| él, ella (he, she) usted (formal you) | compite |
| nosotros/as (we) | competimos |
| vosotros/as (plural you) | competís |
| ellos, ellas (they) ustedes (plural you) | compiten |
Other verbs with the same conjugation pattern include: conseguir (get), corregir (correct), despedir (see off), elegir (choose), medir (measure), pedir (ask for), repetir (repeat), seguir (follow), servir (serve).
Other stem changes
Other changes include stem as well as spelling changes:
Verbs ending in -uir, like concluir (end), change the i to y in certain pronouns. For example: yo concluyo, tú concluyes, él concluye, nosotros concluimos, vosotros concluís, ellos concluyen.
Other verbs belonging to this category are: construir (build), contribuir (contribute), destituir (dismiss), destruir (destroy), disminuir (decrease), huir (run away), influir (influence), incluir (include), obstruir (block), recluir (confine).
Irregular yo conjugation verbs
- Verbs ending in -guir, -ger and -gir.
Verbs ending in -guir change the -gu to g in the yo pronoun conjugation. For example: perseguir (to chase), yo persigo (I chase).
Verbs ending in -ger and -gir change the g to j. For example dirigir (to manage), yo dirijo (I manage).
Other verbs belonging to this category are: exigir (demand), escoger (pick), recoger (pick up). - Verbs ending in -cer and -cir.
Verbs ending in -cer and -cir change the c to z in the yo pronoun conjugation. For example: convencer (to convince), yo convenzo (I convince).
Other verbs belonging to this category are: vencer (defeat), ejercer (exert), esparcir (spread), fruncir (frown), zurcir (darn). - Other stem changes affecting the yo pronoun occur in verbs including:
caber (fit): yo quepo (I fit)
caer (fall): yo caigo (I fall)
conocer (know): yo conozco (I know)
poner (put): yo pongo (I put)
saber (know): yo sé (I know)
salir (leave): yo salgo (I leave)
traer (bring): yo traigo (I bring)
valer (be worth): yo valgo (I am worth)
ver (see): yo veo (I see)
Related articles:
Practice: irregular verbs in Spanish
References
- Real Academia Española, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas, s.v. “Modelos de conjugación verbal,” accessed July 12, 2024, https://www.rae.es/
- Real Academia Española, Nueva gramática de la lengua española, s.v. “Verbos irregulares,” accessed July 10, 2024, https://www.rae.es/
- Oxford Spanish Dictionary, 3rd edition on CD-ROM, Oxford University Press, accessed July 12, 2024.
- Wordreference.com, s.v. “Spanish verb conjugation,” accessed July 12, 2024, https://www.wordreference.com/
- Wordreference.com, accessed July 12, 2024, https://www.wordreference.com/es/
Was this information useful to you?
Yes NoGreat!, thank you for visiting us :)