The Spanish verb "encontrar" means "to find" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "encontrar" across all 5 tenses. New to Spanish verbs? Start with the Spanish verb guide.
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Lexi's Memory Hack
ENCONTRAR is a boot verb: O → UE. "ENCUENtro, ENCUENtras, ENCUENtra… encontramos, encontráis, ENCUENtran." The accent MOVES into the boot.
Encontrarse = to feel / to be located. "¿Cómo te encuentras?" = How are you feeling?
How to Conjugate "encontrar" in the Present Tense
Presente de indicativo Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| yo | I | encuentro |
| tú | you (informal) | encuentras |
| él/ella/usted | he/she/you (formal) | encuentra |
| nosotros | we | encontramos |
| vosotros | you all (Spain) | encontráis |
| ellos/ustedes | they/you all | encuentran |
Ella encuentra la salida.
She finds the exit.
How to Conjugate "encontrar" in the Past (completed) Tense
Pretérito perfecto simple Actions that finished in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| yo | I | encontré |
| tú | you (informal) | encontraste |
| él/ella/usted | he/she/you (formal) | encontró |
| nosotros | we | encontramos |
| vosotros | you all (Spain) | encontrasteis |
| ellos/ustedes | they/you all | encontraron |
Él encontró dinero en casa.
He found money at home.
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Pretérito imperfecto Actions that were ongoing in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| yo | I | encontraba |
| tú | you (informal) | encontrabas |
| él/ella/usted | he/she/you (formal) | encontraba |
| nosotros | we | encontrábamos |
| vosotros | you all (Spain) | encontrabais |
| ellos/ustedes | they/you all | encontraban |
Él encontraba dinero en la calle.
He used to find money on the street.
How to Conjugate "encontrar" in the Future Tense
Futuro simple Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| yo | I | encontraré |
| tú | you (informal) | encontrarás |
| él/ella/usted | he/she/you (formal) | encontrará |
| nosotros | we | encontraremos |
| vosotros | you all (Spain) | encontraréis |
| ellos/ustedes | they/you all | encontrarán |
Él encontrará la salida aquí.
He will find the exit here.
How to Conjugate "encontrar" in the Would (conditional) Tense
Condicional simple Hypothetical actions| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| yo | I | encontraría |
| tú | you (informal) | encontrarías |
| él/ella/usted | he/she/you (formal) | encontraría |
| nosotros | we | encontraríamos |
| vosotros | you all (Spain) | encontraríais |
| ellos/ustedes | they/you all | encontrarían |
Él encontraría la salida hoy.
He would find the exit today.
Frequently Asked Questions About "encontrar"
Is "encontrar" regular or irregular in Spanish?
"Encontrar" is an irregular Spanish verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "encontrar" mean in English?
The Spanish verb "encontrar" means "to find" in English.
How do you conjugate "encontrar" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Presente de indicativo): yo → encuentro, tú → encuentras, él/ella/usted → encuentra, nosotros → encontramos, vosotros → encontráis, ellos/ustedes → encuentran.
How many tenses does "encontrar" have in Spanish?
"Encontrar" is conjugated across 5 tenses in Spanish: Present, Past (completed), Past (ongoing), Future, Would (conditional).
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