How To Use the 50 Most Common Spanish Irregular Verbs (2023)
September 20, 2022by Luis F. DominguezSpanish Grammar0 comments
Every student who learns this language has to deal with the Spanish irregular verbs and it’s likely you already agree that these verbs are one of the hardest grammar concepts to master in Spanish.
Yes, they are not as straightforward as regular verbs. And yes, they require a little bit more effort to learn how to use them, but it’s nothing to be afraid of! All you need to do is understand how they work, memorize some of them, and most importantly, start using them.
In order to help you with that, we are going to explore the 50 most common Spanish irregular verbs with definitions, conjugations, and exercises. But first, let’s talk about what is exactly an irregular verb?
Spanish Irregular Verbs: The Concept
Most verbs in Spanish, as in English, follow some basic patterns when conjugated. Those verbs are known as regulars, and they all follow the same rules.
Then you have the outsiders. We all know them, these are the verbs that only follow their own rules or the rules that apply only to a small group of verbs that behave like them. They are the Spanish irregular verbs.
For instance, let’s see the conjugations of the verb ir or “to go” in Spanish. None of the present tense conjugations of the indicative mood have any relation to the structure of the word to the infinitive verb.
Yo voy
Tú vas
Él va
Nosotros vamos
Ustedes van
Ellos van
The first time you hear about the verb ir, you wouldn’t imagine that its conjugations start with the letter v. That’s why it’s an irregular verb. It doesn’t behave in a regular way.
The 50 Most Common Spanish Irregular Verbs
Each verb includes its English translation, present and simple past tenses conjugations, and an exercise after every group of 10 verbs. To start, I’m putting the ten most common together, and then you’ll find them in groups according to the kind of irregular verbs they are.
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The Top 10
1. Ser – to be
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
soy
fui
tú
eres
fuiste
él/ella
es
fue
nosotros
somos
fuimos
ustedes
son
fueron
ellos/ellas
son
fueron
2. Estar – to be
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
estoy
estuve
tú
estás
estuviste
él/ella
está
estuvo
nosotros
estamos
estuvimos
ustedes
están
estuvieron
ellos/ellas
están
estuvieron
3. Tener – to have (possession)
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
tengo
tuve
tú
tienes
tuviste
él/ella
tiene
tuvo
nosotros
tenemos
tuvimos
ustedes
tienen
tuvieron
ellos/ellas
tienen
tuvieron
4. Haber – to have (to do something, auxiliary verb)
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
he
hube
tú
has
hubiste
él/ella
ha
hubo
nosotros
hemos
hubimos
ustedes
han
hubieron
ellos/ellas
han
hubieron
5. Hacer – to do, make
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
hago
hice
tú
haces
hiciste
él/ella
hace
hizo
nosotros
hacemos
hicimos
ustedes
hacen
hicieron
ellos/ellas
hacen
hicieron
6. Ir – to go
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
voy
fui
tú
vas
fuiste
él/ella
va
fue
nosotros
vamos
fuimos
ustedes
van
fueron
ellos/ellas
van
fueron
7. Ver – to see
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
veo
vi
tú
ves
viste
él/ella
ve
vio
nosotros
vemos
vimos
ustedes
ven
vieron
ellos/ellas
ven
vieron
8. Decir – to say
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
digo
dije
tú
dices
dijiste
él/ella
dice
dijo
nosotros
decimos
dijimos
ustedes
dicen
dijeron
ellos/ellas
dicen
dijeron
9. Poder – to be able, can
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
puedo
pude
tú
puedes
pudiste
él/ella
puede
pudo
nosotros
podemos
pudimos
ustedes
pueden
pudieron
ellos/ellas
pueden
pudieron
10. Dar – to give
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
doy
di
tú
das
diste
él/ella
da
dio
nosotros
damos
diimos
ustedes
dan
dieron
ellos/ellas
dan
dieron
Exercise 1
Fill in the blank using the right Spanish irregular verb conjugation:
Ayer _______ al mercado. (I went to the market yesterday.)
Ella me ______ tu regalo. (She gave me your present.)
_____ dos hijas. (I have two daughters.)
Nosotros ______ mexicanos. (We are Mexians.)
¡Nos _____ robado! (We have been robbed!)
Check the answer key here!
Irregular yo form
11. Conocer – to know
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
conozco
conocí
tú
conoces
conociste
él/ella
conoce
conoció
nosotros
conocemos
conocimos
ustedes
conocen
conocieron
ellos/ellas
conocen
conocieron
12. Saber – to know
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
sé
supe
tú
sabes
supiste
él/ella
sabe
supo
nosotros
sabemos
supimos
ustedes
saben
supieron
ellos/ellas
saben
supieron
13. Poner – to put
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
pongo
puse
tú
pones
pusiste
él/ella
pone
puso
nosotros
ponemos
pusimos
ustedes
ponen
pusieron
ellos/ellas
ponen
pusieron
14. Salir – to exit
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
salgo
salí
tú
sales
saliste
él/ella
sale
salió
nosotros
salimos
salimos
ustedes
salen
salieron
ellos/ellas
salen
salieron
15. Traer – to bring
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
traigo
traje
tú
traes
trajiste
él/ella
trae
trajo
nosotros
traemos
trajimos
ustedes
traen
trajeron
ellos/ellas
traen
trajeron
16. Venir – to come
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
vengo
vine
tú
vienes
viniste
él/ella
viene
vino
nosotros
venimos
vinimos
ustedes
vienen
vinieron
ellos/ellas
vienen
vinieron
17. Oír – to hear
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
oigo
oí
tú
oyes
oíste
él/ella
oye
oyó
nosotros
oímos
oímos
ustedes
oyen
oyeron
ellos/ellas
oyen
oyeron
18. Caer – to fall
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
caigo
caí
tú
caes
caíste
él/ella
cae
cayó
nosotros
caemos
caímos
ustedes
caen
cayeron
ellos/ellas
caen
cayeron
19. Caber – to fit
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
quepo
cupe
tú
cabes
cupiste
él/ella
cabe
cupo
nosotros
cabemos
cupimos
ustedes
caben
cupieron
ellos/ellas
caben
cupieron
Stem-Changing from u to ue
20. Jugar – to play
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
juego
jugué
tú
juegas
jugaste
él/ella
juega
jugó
nosotros
jugamos
jugamos
ustedes
juegan
jugaron
ellos/ellas
juegan
jugaron
Exercise 2
Fill in the blank using the right Spanish irregular verb conjugation:
Ella _____ conmigo. (She comes with me.)
No _____ en esta silla. (I don’t fit in this chair.)
____ fútbol por las mañanas. (I play soccer in the mornings.)
José ____ los tacos. (José bought the tacos.)
Me _____ de caballo. (I fell off the horse.)
Check the answer key here!
Stepm-Changing from e to ie
21. Cerrar – to close
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
cierro
cerré
tú
cierras
cerraste
él/ella
cierra
cerró
nosotros
cerramos
cerramos
ustedes
cierran
cerraron
ellos/ellas
cierran
cerraron
22. Comenzar – to begin
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
comienzo
comencé
tú
comienzas
comenzaste
él/ella
comienza
comenzó
nosotros
comenzamos
comenzamos
ustedes
comienzan
comenzaron
ellos/ellas
comienzan
comenzaron
23. Empezar – to begin
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
empiezo
empecé
tú
empiezas
empezaste
él/ella
empieza
empezó
nosotros
empezamos
empezamos
ustedes
empiezan
empezaron
ellos/ellas
empiezan
empezaron
24. Entender – to understand
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
entiendo
entendí
tú
entiendes
entendiste
él/ella
entiende
entendió
nosotros
entendemos
entendimos
ustedes
entienden
entendieron
ellos/ellas
entienden
entendieron
25. Mentir – to lie
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
miento
mentí
tú
mientes
mentiste
él/ella
miente
mintió
nosotros
mentimos
mentimos
ustedes
mienten
mintieron
ellos/ellas
mienten
mintieron
26. Negar – to deny
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
niego
negué
tú
niegas
negaste
él/ella
niega
negó
nosotros
negamos
negamos
ustedes
niegan
negaron
ellos/ellas
niegan
negaron
27. Pensar – to think
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
pienso
pensé
tú
piensas
pensaste
él/ella
piensa
pensó
nosotros
pensamos
pensamos
ustedes
piensan
pensaron
ellos/ellas
piensan
pensaron
28. Perder – to lose
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
pierdo
perdí
tú
pierdes
perdiste
él/ella
pierde
perdió
nosotros
perdemos
perdimos
ustedes
pierden
perdieron
ellos/ellas
pierden
perdieron
29. Recomendar – to recommend
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
recomiendo
recomendé
tú
recomiendas
recomendaste
él/ella
recomienda
recomendó
nosotros
recomendamos
recomendamos
ustedes
recomiendan
recomendaron
ellos/ellas
recomiendan
recomendaron
30. Sentir – to feel
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
siento
sentí
tú
sientes
sentiste
él/ella
siente
sintió
nosotros
sentimos
sentimos
ustedes
sienten
sintieron
ellos/ellas
sienten
sintieron
Exercise 3
Fill in the blank using the right Spanish irregular verb conjugation:
¿ _____ la pregunta? (did you understand the question?)
Me ______ otra vez. (He lied to me once again.)
No ______ en las consecuencias. (I didn’t think about the consequences.)
María ______ su tienda. (María closed her shop.)
Me _____ muy triste. (I feel very sad.)
Check the answer key here!
Stem-Changing from o to ue and hue
31. Colgar – to hang
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
cuelgo
colgué
tú
cuelgas
colgaste
él/ella
cuelga
colgó
nosotros
colgamos
colgamos
ustedes
cuelgan
colgaron
ellos/ellas
cuelgan
colgaron
32. Contar – to count, to tell
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
cuento
conté
tú
cuentas
contaste
él/ella
cuenta
contó
nosotros
contamos
contamos
ustedes
cuentan
contaron
ellos/ellas
cuentan
contaron
33. Costar – to cost
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
cuesto
costé
tú
cuestas
costaste
él/ella
cuesta
costó
nosotros
costamos
costamos
ustedes
cuestan
costaron
ellos/ellas
cuestan
costaron
34. Doler – to hurt
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
duelo
dolí
tú
dueles
doliste
él/ella
duele
dolió
nosotros
dolemos
dolimos
ustedes
duelen
dolieron
ellos/ellas
duelen
dolieron
35. Encontrar – to find
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
encuentro
encontré
tú
encuentras
encontraste
él/ella
encuentra
encontró
nosotros
encontramos
encontramos
ustedes
encuentran
encontraron
ellos/ellas
encuentran
encontraron
36. Morder – to bite
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
muerdo
modrí
tú
muerdes
mordiste
él/ella
muerde
mordió
nosotros
mordemos
mordimos
ustedes
muerden
mordieron
ellos/ellas
muerden
mordieron
37. Morir – to die
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
muero
morí
tú
mueres
moriste
él/ella
muere
murió
nosotros
morimos
morimos
ustedes
mueren
murieron
ellos/ellas
mueren
murieron
38. Oler – to smell
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
huelo
olí
tú
hueles
oliste
él/ella
huele
olió
nosotros
olemos
olimos
ustedes
huelen
olieron
ellos/ellas
huelen
olieron
39. Recordar – to remember
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
recuerdo
recordé
tú
recuerdas
recordaste
él/ella
recuerda
recordó
nosotros
recordamos
recordamos
ustedes
recuerdan
recordaron
ellos/ellas
recuerdan
recordaron
40. Volver – to return (from somewhere)
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
vuelvo
volví
tú
vuelves
volviste
él/ella
vuelve
volvió
nosotros
volvemos
volvimos
ustedes
vuelven
volvieron
ellos/ellas
vuelven
volvieron
Exercise 4:
Fill in the blank using the right Spanish irregular verb conjugation:
Tu perro me _____. (Your dog bit me.)
Me ______ $10 dólares. (It cost me $10 dollars.)
No _____ mi libro. (I can’t find my book.)
Jorge ______ su saco en el armario. (Jorge hung up his coat in the closet.)
Tu perfume _____ muy bien. (Your perfume smells really nice.)
Check the answer key here!
Stem-changing from e to i
41. Competir – to compete
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
compito
competí
tú
compites
competiste
él/ella
compite
compitió
nosotros
competimos
competimos
ustedes
compiten
compitieron
ellos/ellas
compiten
compitieron
42. Conseguir – to get, obtain
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
consigo
conseguí
tú
consigues
conseguiste
él/ella
consigue
consiguió
nosotros
conseguimos
conseguimos
ustedes
consiguen
consiguieron
ellos/ellas
consiguen
consiguieron
43. Corregir – to correct
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
corrijo
corregí
tú
corriges
corregiste
él/ella
corrige
corrigió
nosotros
corregimos
corregimos
ustedes
corrijen
corrigieron
ellos/ellas
corrijen
corrigieron
44. Despedir – to say goodbye, dismiss, fire
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
despido
despedí
tú
despides
despediste
él/ella
despide
despidió
nosotros
despedimos
despedimos
ustedes
despiden
despidieron
ellos/ellas
despiden
despidieron
45. Elegir – to choose
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
elijo
elegí
tú
eliges
elegiste
él/ella
elige
eligió
nosotros
elegimos
elegimos
ustedes
eligen
eligieron
ellos/ellas
eligen
eligieron
46. Medir – to measure
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
mido
medí
tú
mides
mediste
él/ella
mide
midió
nosotros
medimos
medimos
ustedes
miden
midieron
ellos/ellas
miden
midieron
47. Pedir – to ask for
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
pido
pedí
tú
pides
pediste
él/ella
pide
pidió
nosotros
pedimos
pedimos
ustedes
piden
pidieron
ellos/ellas
piden
pidieron
48. Repetir – to repeat
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
repito
repetí
tú
repite
repetiste
él/ella
repite
repitió
nosotros
repetimos
repetimos
ustedes
repiten
repitieron
ellos/ellas
repiten
repitieron
49. Seguir – to follow
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
sigo
seguí
tú
sigues
seguiste
él/ella
sigue
siguió
nosotros
seguimos
seguimos
ustedes
siguen
siguieron
ellos/ellas
siguen
siguieron
50. Servir – to serve
Pronoun
Present Tense
Past Tense
yo
sirvo
serví
tú
sirves
serviste
él/ella
sirve
sirvió
nosotros
servimos
servimos
ustedes
sirven
sirvieron
ellos/ellas
sirven
sirvieron
Exercise 5
Fill in the blank using the right Spanish irregular verb conjugation:
¿ _____ boletos para el partido? (did you get tickets for the game?)
Yo ______ tu tarea. (I corrected your homework.)
¿Tú _____ esa caja? (Did you measure that box?)
Karla ______ ese vestido. (Karla chose that dress.)
Ese chico me _____ ayer. (That kid followed me yesterday.)
Check the answer key here!
The Irregular End
Congrats, now you know the 50 most common Spanish irregular verbs and how to conjugate them! Your duty now is to practice them as often as possible. For best results, practice what you’re learning in conversation with a native Spanish speaker. At Homeschool Spanish Academy, we offer flexible Spanish lessons with friendly, certified, professional teachers from Guatemala who are eager to help you improve your Spanish fluency. Sign up for a free trial today and put those 50 Spanish irregular verbs to good use!
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“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”
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Luis F. Domínguez is a freelance writer and independent journalist interested in travel, languages, art, books, history, philosophy, politics and sports. He has written for Fodor’s, Yahoo!, Sports Illustrated, Telemundo, and Villa Experience, among other brands of print and digital media in Europe and North America.
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