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How to conjugate Descubrir in Spanish

descubrir to discover, to find out Irregular Verb Top 100

At a glance: Descubrir (to discover, to find out) is one of the most common irregular verbs in Spanish. In the present tense: descubro, descubres, descubre, descubrimos, descubrís, descubren. Every simple tense is regular; only the past participle (descubierto) changes, which carries into the compound tenses.

Past participle
descubierto discovered
Gerund
descubriendo discovering
Similar
averiguar, enterarse, informarse

Descubrir conjugation tables as a PDF

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Indicative tenses of Descubrir

Descubrir in the Indicative Present

The Indicative Present of descubrir is used to talk about situations, events or thoughts that are happening now or in the near future. It is also used to talk about facts and truths. For example, “descubro”, meaning “I discover”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Present is known as "El Presente".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YodescubroI discover
Túdescubresyou discover
Ella / Él / Usteddescubres/he discovers
Nosotras / Nosotrosdescubrimoswe discover
Vosotras / Vosotrosdescubrísyou (plural) discover
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesdescubrenthey discover

How it’s built: Regular: stem descubr- plus the -ir endings.

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Descubrir in the Indicative Preterite

The Indicative Preterite of descubrir is used to talk about actions completed in the past, at a specific point in time. For example, “descubrí”, meaning “I discovered”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Preterite is known as "El Pretérito Indefinido".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YodescubríI discovered
Túdescubristeyou discovered
Ella / Él / Usteddescubriós/he discovered
Nosotras / Nosotrosdescubrimoswe discovered
Vosotras / Vosotrosdescubristeisyou (plural) discovered
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesdescubrieronthey discovered

How it’s built: Regular: stem descubr- plus the -ir endings.

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Descubrir in the Indicative Imperfect

The Indicative Imperfect of descubrir is used to describe regular and repeated actions that happened in the past and descriptions of things you used to do. For example, “descubría”, meaning “I used to discover”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Imperfect is known as "El Pretérito Imperfecto".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YodescubríaI used to discover
Túdescubríasyou used to discover
Ella / Él / Usteddescubrías/he used to discover
Nosotras / Nosotrosdescubríamoswe used to discover
Vosotras / Vosotrosdescubríaisyou (plural) used to discover
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesdescubríanthey used to discover

How it’s built: Regular: stem descubr- plus the -ir endings.

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Descubrir in the Indicative Present Continuous

The Indicative Present Continuous of descubrir is used to talk about something that is happening continuously or right now. For example, “estoy descubriendo”, meaning “I am discovering”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Present Continuous is known as "El Presente Progresivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yoestoy descubriendoI am discovering
Túestás descubriendoyou are discovering
Ella / Él / Ustedestá descubriendos/he is discovering
Nosotras / Nosotrosestamos descubriendowe are discovering
Vosotras / Vosotrosestáis descubriendoyou (plural) are discovering
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesestán descubriendothey are discovering

How it’s built: Estar in the present (estoy, estás, está, estamos, estáis, están) plus the gerund descubriendo.

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Descubrir in the Indicative Informal Future

The Indicative Informal Future of descubrir is used to talk about something that will happen in the future, especially in the near future. For example, “voy a descubrir”, meaning “I am going to discover”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Informal Future is known as "El Futuro Próximo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yovoy a descubrirI am going to discover
Túvas a descubriryou are going to discover
Ella / Él / Ustedva a descubrirs/he is going to discover
Nosotras / Nosotrosvamos a descubrirwe are going to discover
Vosotras / Vosotrosvais a descubriryou (plural) are going to discover
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesvan a descubrirthey are going to discover

How it’s built: Ir in the present (voy, vas, va, vamos, vais, van), then a, then the infinitive descubrir.

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Descubrir in the Indicative Future

The Indicative Future of descubrir is used to talk about something that will happen in the future. For example, “descubriré”, meaning “I will discover”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Future is known as "El Futuro Simple".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YodescubriréI will discover
Túdescubrirásyou will discover
Ella / Él / Usteddescubrirás/he will discover
Nosotras / Nosotrosdescubriremoswe will discover
Vosotras / Vosotrosdescubriréisyou (plural) will discover
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesdescubriránthey will discover

How it’s built: Regular: the infinitive descubrir plus the future endings.

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Descubrir in the Indicative Conditional

The Indicative Conditional of descubrir is used to talk about something that may happen in the future, hypothesis and probabilities. For example, “descubriría”, meaning “I would discover”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Conditional is known as "El Condicional Simple".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YodescubriríaI would discover
Túdescubriríasyou would discover
Ella / Él / Usteddescubrirías/he would discover
Nosotras / Nosotrosdescubriríamoswe would discover
Vosotras / Vosotrosdescubriríaisyou (plural) would discover
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesdescubriríanthey would discover

How it’s built: Regular: the infinitive descubrir plus the conditional endings.

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Descubrir in the Indicative Present Perfect

The Indicative Present Perfect of descubrir is used to describe actions that started recently (in the past) and are still happening now or things that have been done recently. For example, “he descubierto”, meaning “I have discovered”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Present Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Perfecto".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohe descubiertoI have discovered
Túhas descubiertoyou have discovered
Ella / Él / Ustedha descubiertos/he has discovered
Nosotras / Nosotroshemos descubiertowe have discovered
Vosotras / Vosotroshabéis descubiertoyou (plural) have discovered
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshan descubiertothey have discovered

How it’s built: Haber in the present (he, has, ha, hemos, habéis, han) plus the irregular past participle descubierto.

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Descubrir in the Indicative Past Perfect

The Indicative Past Perfect of descubrir is used to talk about actions that happened before another action in the past. For example, “había descubierto”, meaning “I had discovered”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Past Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohabía descubiertoI had discovered
Túhabías descubiertoyou had discovered
Ella / Él / Ustedhabía descubiertos/he had discovered
Nosotras / Nosotroshabíamos descubiertowe had discovered
Vosotras / Vosotroshabíais descubiertoyou (plural) had discovered
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshabían descubiertothey had discovered

How it’s built: Haber in the imperfect (había, habías, había, habíamos, habíais, habían) plus the irregular past participle descubierto.

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Descubrir in the Indicative Future Perfect

The Indicative Future Perfect of descubrir is used to talk about something that will have happened in the future after something else has already happened. For example, “habré descubierto”, meaning “I will have discovered”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Future Perfect is known as "El Futuro Perfecto".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohabré descubiertoI will have discovered
Túhabrás descubiertoyou will have discovered
Ella / Él / Ustedhabrá descubiertos/he will have discovered
Nosotras / Nosotroshabremos descubiertowe will have discovered
Vosotras / Vosotroshabréis descubiertoyou (plural) will have discovered
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshabrán descubiertothey will have discovered

How it’s built: Haber in the future (habré, habrás, habrá, habremos, habréis, habrán) plus the irregular past participle descubierto.

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Descubrir in the Indicative Conditional Perfect

The Indicative Conditional Perfect of descubrir is used to talk about something that would have happened in the past but didn’t due to another action. For example, “habría descubierto”, meaning “I would have discovered”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Conditional Perfect is known as "El Condicional Perfecto".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohabría descubiertoI would have discovered
Túhabrías descubiertoyou would have discovered
Ella / Él / Ustedhabría descubiertos/he would have discovered
Nosotras / Nosotroshabríamos descubiertowe would have discovered
Vosotras / Vosotroshabríais descubiertoyou (plural) would have discovered
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshabrían descubiertothey would have discovered

How it’s built: Haber in the conditional (habría, habrías, habría, habríamos, habríais, habrían) plus the irregular past participle descubierto.

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Subjunctive tenses of Descubrir

Descubrir in the Subjunctive Present

The Subjunctive Present is used to talk about situations of uncertainty, or emotions such as wishes, desires and hopes. It differs from the indicative mood due to the uncertainty of the events which are being spoken about. For example, “descubra”, meaning “I discover”.

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Present is known as "El Presente de Subjuntivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YodescubraI discover
Túdescubrasyou discover
Ella / Él / Usteddescubras/he discovers
Nosotras / Nosotrosdescubramoswe discover
Vosotras / Vosotrosdescubráisyou (plural) discover
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesdescubranthey discover

How it’s built: Regular: stem descubr- plus the -ir subjunctive endings.

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Descubrir in the Subjunctive Imperfect

The Subjunctive Imperfect is used to speak about unlikely or uncertain events in the past or to cast an opinion (emotional) about something that happened in the past. For example, “descubriera”, meaning “I discovered”.

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Imperfect is known as "El Imperfecto Subjuntivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YodescubrieraI discovered
Túdescubrierasyou discovered
Ella / Él / Usteddescubrieras/he discovered
Nosotras / Nosotrosdescubriéramoswe discovered
Vosotras / Vosotrosdescubrieraisyou (plural) discovered
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesdescubrieranthey discovered

How it’s built: Regular: the ellas/ellos preterite, descubrieron, without -ron, plus the -ra endings; nosotros adds an accent (descubriéramos).

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Descubrir in the Subjunctive Future

The Subjunctive Future is used to speak about hypothetical situations, and actions/events that may happen in the future. For example, “descubriere”, meaning “I will discover”.

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Future is known as "El Futuro de Subjuntivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YodescubriereI will discover
Túdescubrieresyou will discover
Ella / Él / Usteddescubrieres/he will discover
Nosotras / Nosotrosdescubriéremoswe will discover
Vosotras / Vosotrosdescubriereisyou (plural) will discover
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesdescubrierenthey will discover

How it’s built: Regular: the ellas/ellos preterite, descubrieron, without -ron, plus the -re endings; nosotros adds an accent (descubriéremos).

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Descubrir in the Subjunctive Present Perfect

The Subjunctive Present Perfect is used to describe past actions or events that are still connected to the present day and to speak about an action that will have happened by a certain time in the future. For example, “haya descubierto”, meaning “I have discovered”.

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Present Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohaya descubiertoI have discovered
Túhayas descubiertoyou have discovered
Ella / Él / Ustedhaya descubiertos/he has discovered
Nosotras / Nosotroshayamos descubiertowe have discovered
Vosotras / Vosotroshayáis descubiertoyou (plural) have discovered
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshayan descubiertothey have discovered

How it’s built: Haber in the subjunctive present (haya, hayas, haya, hayamos, hayáis, hayan) plus the irregular past participle descubierto.

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Descubrir in the Subjunctive Past Perfect

The Subjunctive Past Perfect is used to speak about hypothetical situations, and actions/events that occurred before other actions/events in the past. For example, “hubiera descubierto”, meaning “I had discovered”.

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Past Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohubiera descubiertoI had discovered
Túhubieras descubiertoyou had discovered
Ella / Él / Ustedhubiera descubiertos/he had discovered
Nosotras / Nosotroshubiéramos descubiertowe had discovered
Vosotras / Vosotroshubierais descubiertoyou (plural) had discovered
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshubieran descubiertothey had discovered

How it’s built: Haber in the subjunctive imperfect (hubiera, hubieras, hubiera, hubiéramos, hubierais, hubieran) plus the irregular past participle descubierto.

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Descubrir in the Subjunctive Future Perfect

The Subjunctive Future Perfect is used to speak about something that will have happened if a hypothetical situations occurs in the future. For example, “hubiere descubierto”, meaning “I will have discovered”.

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Future Perfect is known as "El Futuro Perfecto de Subjuntivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohubiere descubiertoI will have discovered
Túhubieres descubiertoyou will have discovered
Ella / Él / Ustedhubiere descubiertos/he will have discovered
Nosotras / Nosotroshubiéremos descubiertowe will have discovered
Vosotras / Vosotroshubiereis descubiertoyou (plural) will have discovered
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshubieren descubiertothey will have discovered

How it’s built: Haber in the subjunctive future (hubiere, hubieres, hubiere, hubiéremos, hubiereis, hubieren) plus the irregular past participle descubierto.

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Imperative tenses of Descubrir

Descubrir in the Imperative Affirmative

The Imperative Affirmative is used to give orders and commands, to tell someone to do something. For example, “descubra”, meaning “(to you formal) discover!”.

In Spanish, the Imperative Affirmative is known as "El Imperativo Afirmativo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yo--
Túdescubre(to you) discover!
Ella / Él / Usteddescubra(to you formal) discover!
Nosotras / Nosotrosdescubramoslet's discover!
Vosotras / Vosotrosdescubrid(to you plural) discover!
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesdescubran(to you plural formal) discover!

How it’s built: Tú takes the ella/él present (descubre); usted, nosotros and ustedes take the subjunctive present (descubra, descubramos, descubran); vosotros swaps the final r of the infinitive for a d (descubrid).

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Descubrir in the Imperative Negative

The Imperative Negative is used to give orders and commands, telling someone not to do something. For example, “no descubra”, meaning “(to you formal) don't discover!”.

In Spanish, the Imperative Negative is known as "El Imperativo Negativo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yo--
Túno descubras(to you) don't discover!
Ella / Él / Ustedno descubra(to you formal) don't discover!
Nosotras / Nosotrosno descubramoslet's not discover!
Vosotras / Vosotrosno descubráis(to you plural) don't discover!
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesno descubran(to you plural formal) don't discover!

How it’s built: No plus the subjunctive present: no descubras, no descubra, no descubramos, no descubráis, no descubran.

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Example sentences and usage

  • Estarás en problemas si tu novia descubre la verdad. You'll get into trouble if your girlfriend finds out the truth.

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Frequently asked questions about Descubrir

Is descubrir a regular or irregular verb?

Descubrir is an irregular Spanish verb. Every simple tense is regular; only the past participle (descubierto) changes, which carries into the compound tenses.

How do you conjugate descubrir in the present tense (presente)?

In the present tense (presente), descubrir is conjugated as: yo descubro, tú descubres, él/ella/usted descubre, nosotros descubrimos, vosotros descubrís, ellos/ellas/ustedes descubren. The present tense is used To talk about situations, events or thoughts that are happening now or in the near future. It is also used to talk about facts and truths.

How do you conjugate descubrir in the preterite (pretérito indefinido)?

In the preterite (pretérito indefinido), descubrir is conjugated as: yo descubrí, tú descubriste, él/ella/usted descubrió, nosotros descubrimos, vosotros descubristeis, ellos/ellas/ustedes descubrieron. The preterite is used To talk about actions completed in the past, at a specific point in time.

How do you conjugate descubrir in the imperfect (pretérito imperfecto)?

In the imperfect (pretérito imperfecto), descubrir is conjugated as: yo descubría, tú descubrías, él/ella/usted descubría, nosotros descubríamos, vosotros descubríais, ellos/ellas/ustedes descubrían. The imperfect is used To describe regular and repeated actions that happened in the past and descriptions of things you used to do.

How do you conjugate descubrir in the future tense (futuro simple)?

In the future tense (futuro simple), descubrir is conjugated as: yo descubriré, tú descubrirás, él/ella/usted descubrirá, nosotros descubriremos, vosotros descubriréis, ellos/ellas/ustedes descubrirán. The future tense is used To talk about something that will happen in the future.

How do you conjugate descubrir in the present subjunctive (subjuntivo presente)?

In the present subjunctive (subjuntivo presente), descubrir is conjugated as: yo descubra, tú descubras, él/ella/usted descubra, nosotros descubramos, vosotros descubráis, ellos/ellas/ustedes descubran. The present subjunctive is used To talk about situations of uncertainty, or emotions such as wishes, desires and hopes. It differs from the indicative mood due to the uncertainty of the events which are being spoken about.

What are some common example sentences using descubrir?

Here are everyday sentences using descubrir: Estarás en problemas si tu novia descubre la verdad. (You'll get into trouble if your girlfriend finds out the truth.)


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Want to explore other verb conjugations?

Why not check out Desear – to wish, to want, to desire or see the complete list of verbs here.


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