Ella VerbsHow to conjugate Encontrar in Spanish
To find Irregular Verb Top 100
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Indicative tenses of Encontrar
- Encontrar in the Indicative Present
- Encontrar in the Indicative Preterite
- Encontrar in the Indicative Imperfect
- Encontrar in the Indicative Present Continuous
- Encontrar in the Indicative Informal Future
- Encontrar in the Indicative Future
- Encontrar in the Indicative Conditional
- Encontrar in the Indicative Present Perfect
- Encontrar in the Indicative Past Perfect
- Encontrar in the Indicative Future Perfect
- Encontrar in the Indicative Conditional Perfect
- Subjunctive tenses of Encontrar
- Imperative tenses of Encontrar
- Example sentences and usage
- Downloadable cheat sheet (PDF)
- Practice Encontrar conjugations (free mobile app)
Introduction
Encontrar is the Spanish verb meaning "to find". It is used when finding, discovering or encountering something. Encontrar is irregular in the present tense Indicative and Subjunctive.
Similar verbs to encontrar include: descubrir (to discover), ubicar (to locate), acertar (to find the location).
| Item | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Infinitive | encontrar | to find |
| Past participle | encontrado | found |
| Gerund | encontrando | finding |
Indicative Tenses of Encontrar
Encontrar in the Indicative Present
The Indicative Present of encontrar 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, "encuentro una chaqueta en el armario", meaning "I find a jacket in the wardrobe".
In Spanish, the Indicative Present is known as "El Presente".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | encuentro | I find |
| Tú | encuentras | you find |
| Ella / Él / Usted | encuentra | s/he finds, you (formal) find |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | encontramos | we find |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | encontráis | you (plural) find |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | encuentran | they find, you (plural formal) find |
The red dot () above denotes an irregular conjugation.
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Encontrar in the Indicative Preterite
The Indicative Preterite of encontrar is used to talk about actions completed in the past, at a specific point in time. For example, "encontré una chaqueta en el armario", meaning "I found a jacket in the wardrobe".
In Spanish, the Indicative Preterite is known as "El Pretérito Indefinido".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | encontré | I found |
| Tú | encontraste | you found |
| Ella / Él / Usted | encontró | s/he found, you (formal) found |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | encontramos | we found |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | encontrasteis | you (plural) found |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | encontraron | they found, you (plural formal) found |
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Encontrar in the Indicative Imperfect
The Indicative Imperfect of encontrar is used to describe regular and repeated actions that happened in the past and descriptions of things you used to do. For example, "encontraba una chaqueta en el armario", meaning "I used to find a jacket in the wardrobe".
In Spanish, the Indicative Imperfect is known as "El Pretérito Imperfecto".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | encontraba | I used to find |
| Tú | encontrabas | you used to find |
| Ella / Él / Usted | encontraba | s/he used to find, you (formal) used to find |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | encontrábamos | we used to find |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | encontrabais | you (plural) used to find |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | encontraban | they used to find, you (plural formal) used to find |
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Encontrar in the Indicative Present Continuous
The Indicative Present Continuous of encontrar is used to talk about something that is happening continuously or right now. For example, "estoy encontrando una chaqueta en el armario", meaning "I am finding a jacket in the wardrobe".
In Spanish, the Indicative Present Continuous is known as "El Presente Progresivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | estoy encontrando | I am finding |
| Tú | estás encontrando | you are finding |
| Ella / Él / Usted | está encontrando | s/he is finding, you (formal) are finding |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | estamos encontrando | we are finding |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | estáis encontrando | you (plural) are finding |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | están encontrando | they are finding, you (plural formal) are finding |
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Encontrar in the Indicative Informal Future
The Indicative Informal Future of encontrar is used to talk about something that will happen in the future, especially in the near future. For example, "voy a encontrar una chaqueta en el armario", meaning "I am going to find a jacket in the wardrobe".
In Spanish, the Indicative Informal Future is known as "El Futuro Próximo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | voy a encontrar | I am going to find |
| Tú | vas a encontrar | you are going to find |
| Ella / Él / Usted | va a encontrar | s/he is going to find, you (formal) are going to find |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | vamos a encontrar | we are going to find |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | vais a encontrar | you (plural) are going to find |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | van a encontrar | they are going to find, you (plural formal) are going to find |
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Encontrar in the Indicative Future
The Indicative Future of encontrar is used to talk about something that will happen in the future. For example, "encontraré una chaqueta en el armario", meaning "I will find a jacket in the wardrobe".
In Spanish, the Indicative Future is known as "El Futuro Simple".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | encontraré | I will find |
| Tú | encontrarás | you will find |
| Ella / Él / Usted | encontrará | s/he will find, you (formal) will find |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | encontraremos | we will find |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | encontraréis | you (plural) will find |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | encontrarán | they will find, you (plural formal) will find |
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Encontrar in the Indicative Conditional
The Indicative Conditional of encontrar is used to talk about something that may happen in the future, hypothesis and probabilities. For example, "encontraría una chaqueta en el armario", meaning "I would find a jacket in the wardrobe".
In Spanish, the Indicative Conditional is known as "El Condicional Simple".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | encontraría | I would find |
| Tú | encontrarías | you would find |
| Ella / Él / Usted | encontraría | s/he would find, you (formal) would find |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | encontraríamos | we would find |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | encontraríais | you (plural) would find |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | encontrarían | they would find, you (plural formal) would find |
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Encontrar in the Indicative Present Perfect
The Indicative Present Perfect of encontrar 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 encontrado una chaqueta en el armario", meaning "I have found a jacket in the wardrobe".
In Spanish, the Indicative Present Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Perfecto".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | he encontrado | I have found |
| Tú | has encontrado | you have found |
| Ella / Él / Usted | ha encontrado | s/he has found, you (formal) have found |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | hemos encontrado | we have found |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | habéis encontrado | you (plural) have found |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | han encontrado | they have found, you (plural formal) have found |
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Encontrar in the Indicative Past Perfect
The Indicative Past Perfect of encontrar is used to talk about actions that happened before another action in the past. For example, "había encontrado una chaqueta en el armario", meaning "I had found a jacket in the wardrobe".
In Spanish, the Indicative Past Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | había encontrado | I had found |
| Tú | habías encontrado | you had found |
| Ella / Él / Usted | había encontrado | s/he had found, you (formal) had found |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | habíamos encontrado | we had found |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | habíais encontrado | you (plural) had found |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | habían encontrado | they had found, you (plural formal) had found |
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Encontrar in the Indicative Future Perfect
The Indicative Future Perfect of encontrar is used to talk about something that will have happened in the future after something else has already happened. For example, "habré encontrado una chaqueta en el armario", meaning "I will have found a jacket in the wardrobe".
In Spanish, the Indicative Future Perfect is known as "El Futuro Perfecto".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | habré encontrado | I will have found |
| Tú | habrás encontrado | you will have found |
| Ella / Él / Usted | habrá encontrado | s/he will have found, you (formal) will have found |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | habremos encontrado | we will have found |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | habréis encontrado | you (plural) will have found |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | habrán encontrado | they will have found, you (plural formal) will have found |
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Encontrar in the Indicative Conditional Perfect
The Indicative Conditional Perfect of encontrar is used to talk about something that would have happened in the past but didn’t due to another action. For example, "habría encontrado una chaqueta en el armario", meaning "I would have found a jacket in the wardrobe".
In Spanish, the Indicative Conditional Perfect is known as "El Condicional Perfecto".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | habría encontrado | I would have found |
| Tú | habrías encontrado | you would have found |
| Ella / Él / Usted | habría encontrado | s/he would have found, you (formal) would have found |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | habríamos encontrado | we would have found |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | habríais encontrado | you (plural) would have found |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | habrían encontrado | they would have found, you (plural formal) would have found |
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Subjunctive Tenses of Encontrar
Encontrar 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, "encuentre", meaning "I find".
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Present is known as "El Presente de Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | encuentre | I find |
| Tú | encuentres | you find |
| Ella / Él / Usted | encuentre | s/he finds, you (formal) find |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | encontremos | we find |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | encontréis | you (plural) find |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | encuentren | they find, you (plural formal) find |
The red dot () above denotes an irregular conjugation.
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Encontrar 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, "encontrara", meaning "I found".
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Imperfect is known as "El Imperfecto Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | encontrara | I found |
| Tú | encontraras | you found |
| Ella / Él / Usted | encontrara | s/he found, you (formal) found |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | encontráramos | we found |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | encontrarais | you (plural) found |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | encontraran | they found, you (plural formal) found |
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Encontrar 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, "encontrare", meaning "I will find".
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Future is known as "El Futuro de Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | encontrare | I will find |
| Tú | encontrares | you will find |
| Ella / Él / Usted | encontrare | s/he will find, you (formal) will find |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | encontráremos | we will find |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | encontrareis | you (plural) will find |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | encontraren | they will find, you (plural formal) will find |
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Encontrar 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 encontrado", meaning "I have found".
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Present Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | haya encontrado | I have found |
| Tú | hayas encontrado | you have found |
| Ella / Él / Usted | haya encontrado | s/he has found, you (formal) have found |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | hayamos encontrado | we have found |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | hayáis encontrado | you (plural) have found |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | hayan encontrado | they have found, you (plural formal) have found |
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Encontrar 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 encontrado", meaning "I had found".
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Past Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | hubiera encontrado | I had found |
| Tú | hubieras encontrado | you had found |
| Ella / Él / Usted | hubiera encontrado | s/he had found, you (formal) had found |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | hubiéramos encontrado | we had found |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | hubierais encontrado | you (plural) had found |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | hubieran encontrado | they had found, you (plural formal) had found |
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Encontrar 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 encontrado", meaning "I will have found".
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Future Perfect is known as "El Futuro Perfecto de Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | hubiere encontrado | I will have found |
| Tú | hubieres encontrado | you will have found |
| Ella / Él / Usted | hubiere encontrado | s/he will have found, you (formal) will have found |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | hubiéremos encontrado | we will have found |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | hubiereis encontrado | you (plural) will have found |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | hubieren encontrado | they will have found, you (plural formal) will have found |
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Imperative Tenses of Encontrar
Encontrar in the Imperative Affirmative
The Imperative Affirmative is used to give orders and commands, to tell someone to do something. For example, "encuentre", meaning "(to you formal) find!".
In Spanish, the Imperative Affirmative is known as "El Imperativo Afirmativo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | - | - |
| Tú | encuentra | (to you) find! |
| Ella / Él / Usted | encuentre | (to you formal) find! |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | encontremos | let's find! |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | encontrad | (to you plural) find! |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | encuentren | (to you plural formal) find! |
The red dot () above denotes an irregular conjugation.
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Encontrar in the Imperative Negative
The Imperative Negative is used to give orders and commands, telling someone not to do something. For example, "no encuentre", meaning "(to you formal) don't find!".
In Spanish, the Imperative Negative is known as "El Imperativo Negativo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | - | - |
| Tú | no encuentres | (to you) don't find! |
| Ella / Él / Usted | no encuentre | (to you formal) don't find! |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | no encontremos | let's not find! |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | no encontréis | (to you plural) don't find! |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | no encuentren | (to you plural formal) don't find! |
The red dot () above denotes an irregular conjugation.
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Example sentences and usage
- Cada vez que encuentro algo que me gusta, es demasiado caro. Whenever I find something I like, it's too expensive.
- A los pies de la colina se encuentra un lago muy bonito. At the foot of the hill is a beautiful lake.
- Me encontraste donde nadie estaba buscando. You found me where no one else was looking.
- Encuentro las lenguas extranjeras muy interesantes. I find foreign languages very interesting.
- Si encuentro tu pasaporte te llamo inmediatamente. If I find your passport, I'll call you at once.
- A menudo pienso en el lugar donde te encontré. I often think about the place where I met you.
- Encontré el libro por casualidad. I found the book by accident.
- Me encontré con mi ex-novia en Portugal por casualidad. By chance I met my ex-girlfriend in Portugal.
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Downloadable cheat sheets
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Want to explore other verb conjugations?
Why not check out Encontrarse – to find (oneself) or see the complete list of verbs here.
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Encontrar: to find
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