How To Use the 50 Most Common Spanish Irregular Verbs (2023)

How To Use the 50 Most Common Spanish Irregular Verbs (1)

September 20, 2022 by Luis F. Dominguez Spanish Grammar 0 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

How To Use the 50 Most Common Spanish Irregular Verbs (2)

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.

How To Use the 50 Most Common Spanish Irregular Verbs (3)

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.

How To Use the 50 Most Common Spanish Irregular Verbs (5)

Download our Free Common Spanish Irregular Verbs Worksheet!

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The Top 10

1. Ser – to be

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yosoyfui
eresfuiste
él/ellaesfue
nosotrossomosfuimos
ustedessonfueron
ellos/ellassonfueron

2. Estar – to be

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yoestoyestuve
estásestuviste
él/ellaestáestuvo
nosotrosestamosestuvimos
ustedesestánestuvieron
ellos/ellasestánestuvieron

3. Tener – to have (possession)

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yotengotuve
tienestuviste
él/ellatienetuvo
nosotrostenemostuvimos
ustedestienentuvieron
ellos/ellastienentuvieron

4. Haber – to have (to do something, auxiliary verb)

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yohehube
hashubiste
él/ellahahubo
nosotroshemoshubimos
ustedeshanhubieron
ellos/ellashanhubieron

5. Hacer – to do, make

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yohagohice
haceshiciste
él/ellahacehizo
nosotroshacemoshicimos
ustedeshacenhicieron
ellos/ellashacenhicieron

6. Ir – to go

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yovoyfui
vasfuiste
él/ellavafue
nosotrosvamosfuimos
ustedesvanfueron
ellos/ellasvanfueron

7. Ver – to see

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yoveovi
vesviste
él/ellavevio
nosotrosvemosvimos
ustedesvenvieron
ellos/ellasvenvieron

8. Decir – to say

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yodigodije
dicesdijiste
él/elladicedijo
nosotrosdecimosdijimos
ustedesdicendijeron
ellos/ellasdicendijeron

9. Poder – to be able, can

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yopuedopude
puedespudiste
él/ellapuedepudo
nosotrospodemospudimos
ustedespuedenpudieron
ellos/ellaspuedenpudieron

10. Dar – to give

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yodoydi
dasdiste
él/elladadio
nosotrosdamosdiimos
ustedesdandieron
ellos/ellasdandieron

Exercise 1

Fill in the blank using the right Spanish irregular verb conjugation:

  1. Ayer _______ al mercado. (I went to the market yesterday.)
  2. Ella me ______ tu regalo. (She gave me your present.)
  3. _____ dos hijas. (I have two daughters.)
  4. Nosotros ______ mexicanos. (We are Mexians.)
  5. ¡Nos _____ robado! (We have been robbed!)

Check the answer key here!

Irregular yo form

11. Conocer – to know

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yoconozcoconocí
conocesconociste
él/ellaconoceconoció
nosotrosconocemosconocimos
ustedesconocenconocieron
ellos/ellasconocenconocieron

12. Saber – to know

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yosupe
sabessupiste
él/ellasabesupo
nosotrossabemossupimos
ustedessabensupieron
ellos/ellassabensupieron

13. Poner – to put

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yopongopuse
ponespusiste
él/ellaponepuso
nosotrosponemospusimos
ustedesponenpusieron
ellos/ellasponenpusieron

14. Salir – to exit

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yosalgosalí
salessaliste
él/ellasalesalió
nosotrossalimossalimos
ustedessalensalieron
ellos/ellassalensalieron

15. Traer – to bring

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yotraigotraje
traestrajiste
él/ellatraetrajo
nosotrostraemostrajimos
ustedestraentrajeron
ellos/ellastraentrajeron

16. Venir – to come

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yovengovine
vienesviniste
él/ellavienevino
nosotrosvenimosvinimos
ustedesvienenvinieron
ellos/ellasvienenvinieron

17. Oír – to hear

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yooigo
oyesoíste
él/ellaoyeoyó
nosotrosoímosoímos
ustedesoyenoyeron
ellos/ellasoyenoyeron

18. Caer – to fall

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yocaigocaí
caescaíste
él/ellacaecayó
nosotroscaemoscaímos
ustedescaencayeron
ellos/ellascaencayeron

19. Caber – to fit

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yoquepocupe
cabescupiste
él/ellacabecupo
nosotroscabemoscupimos
ustedescabencupieron
ellos/ellascabencupieron

Stem-Changing from u to ue

20. Jugar – to play

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yojuegojugué
juegasjugaste
él/ellajuegajugó
nosotrosjugamosjugamos
ustedesjueganjugaron
ellos/ellasjueganjugaron

Exercise 2

Fill in the blank using the right Spanish irregular verb conjugation:

  1. Ella _____ conmigo. (She comes with me.)
  2. No _____ en esta silla. (I don’t fit in this chair.)
  3. ____ fútbol por las mañanas. (I play soccer in the mornings.)
  4. José ____ los tacos. (José bought the tacos.)
  5. Me _____ de caballo. (I fell off the horse.)

Check the answer key here!

Stepm-Changing from e to ie

21. Cerrar – to close

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yocierrocerré
cierrascerraste
él/ellacierracerró
nosotroscerramoscerramos
ustedescierrancerraron
ellos/ellascierrancerraron

22. Comenzar – to begin

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yocomienzocomencé
comienzascomenzaste
él/ellacomienzacomenzó
nosotroscomenzamoscomenzamos
ustedescomienzancomenzaron
ellos/ellascomienzancomenzaron

23. Empezar – to begin

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yoempiezoempecé
empiezasempezaste
él/ellaempiezaempezó
nosotrosempezamosempezamos
ustedesempiezanempezaron
ellos/ellasempiezanempezaron

24. Entender – to understand

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yoentiendoentendí
entiendesentendiste
él/ellaentiendeentendió
nosotrosentendemosentendimos
ustedesentiendenentendieron
ellos/ellasentiendenentendieron

25. Mentir – to lie

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yomientomentí
mientesmentiste
él/ellamientemintió
nosotrosmentimosmentimos
ustedesmientenmintieron
ellos/ellasmientenmintieron

26. Negar – to deny

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yoniegonegué
niegasnegaste
él/ellanieganegó
nosotrosnegamosnegamos
ustedesniegannegaron
ellos/ellasniegannegaron

27. Pensar – to think

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yopiensopensé
piensaspensaste
él/ellapiensapensó
nosotrospensamospensamos
ustedespiensanpensaron
ellos/ellaspiensanpensaron

28. Perder – to lose

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yopierdoperdí
pierdesperdiste
él/ellapierdeperdió
nosotrosperdemosperdimos
ustedespierdenperdieron
ellos/ellaspierdenperdieron

29. Recomendar – to recommend

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yorecomiendorecomendé
recomiendasrecomendaste
él/ellarecomiendarecomendó
nosotrosrecomendamosrecomendamos
ustedesrecomiendanrecomendaron
ellos/ellasrecomiendanrecomendaron

30. Sentir – to feel

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yosientosentí
sientessentiste
él/ellasientesintió
nosotrossentimossentimos
ustedessientensintieron
ellos/ellassientensintieron

Exercise 3

Fill in the blank using the right Spanish irregular verb conjugation:

  1. ¿ _____ la pregunta? (did you understand the question?)
  2. Me ______ otra vez. (He lied to me once again.)
  3. No ______ en las consecuencias. (I didn’t think about the consequences.)
  4. María ______ su tienda. (María closed her shop.)
  5. Me _____ muy triste. (I feel very sad.)

Check the answer key here!

Stem-Changing from o to ue and hue

31. Colgar – to hang

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yocuelgocolgué
cuelgascolgaste
él/ellacuelgacolgó
nosotroscolgamoscolgamos
ustedescuelgancolgaron
ellos/ellascuelgancolgaron

32. Contar – to count, to tell

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yocuentoconté
cuentascontaste
él/ellacuentacontó
nosotroscontamoscontamos
ustedescuentancontaron
ellos/ellascuentancontaron

33. Costar – to cost

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yocuestocosté
cuestascostaste
él/ellacuestacostó
nosotroscostamoscostamos
ustedescuestancostaron
ellos/ellascuestancostaron

34. Doler – to hurt

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yoduelodolí
duelesdoliste
él/elladueledolió
nosotrosdolemosdolimos
ustedesduelendolieron
ellos/ellasduelendolieron

35. Encontrar – to find

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yoencuentroencontré
encuentrasencontraste
él/ellaencuentraencontró
nosotrosencontramosencontramos
ustedesencuentranencontraron
ellos/ellasencuentranencontraron

36. Morder – to bite

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yomuerdomodrí
muerdesmordiste
él/ellamuerdemordió
nosotrosmordemosmordimos
ustedesmuerdenmordieron
ellos/ellasmuerdenmordieron

37. Morir – to die

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yomueromorí
mueresmoriste
él/ellamueremurió
nosotrosmorimosmorimos
ustedesmuerenmurieron
ellos/ellasmuerenmurieron

38. Oler – to smell

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yohueloolí
huelesoliste
él/ellahueleolió
nosotrosolemosolimos
ustedeshuelenolieron
ellos/ellashuelenolieron

39. Recordar – to remember

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yorecuerdorecordé
recuerdasrecordaste
él/ellarecuerdarecordó
nosotrosrecordamosrecordamos
ustedesrecuerdanrecordaron
ellos/ellasrecuerdanrecordaron

40. Volver – to return (from somewhere)

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yovuelvovolví
vuelvesvolviste
él/ellavuelvevolvió
nosotrosvolvemosvolvimos
ustedesvuelvenvolvieron
ellos/ellasvuelvenvolvieron

Exercise 4:

Fill in the blank using the right Spanish irregular verb conjugation:

  1. Tu perro me _____. (Your dog bit me.)
  2. Me ______ $10 dólares. (It cost me $10 dollars.)
  3. No _____ mi libro. (I can’t find my book.)
  4. Jorge ______ su saco en el armario. (Jorge hung up his coat in the closet.)
  5. Tu perfume _____ muy bien. (Your perfume smells really nice.)

Check the answer key here!

Stem-changing from e to i

41. Competir – to compete

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yocompitocompetí
compitescompetiste
él/ellacompitecompitió
nosotroscompetimoscompetimos
ustedescompitencompitieron
ellos/ellascompitencompitieron

42. Conseguir – to get, obtain

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yoconsigoconseguí
consiguesconseguiste
él/ellaconsigueconsiguió
nosotrosconseguimosconseguimos
ustedesconsiguenconsiguieron
ellos/ellasconsiguenconsiguieron

43. Corregir – to correct

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yocorrijocorregí
corrigescorregiste
él/ellacorrigecorrigió
nosotroscorregimoscorregimos
ustedescorrijencorrigieron
ellos/ellascorrijencorrigieron

44. Despedir – to say goodbye, dismiss, fire

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yodespidodespedí
despidesdespediste
él/elladespidedespidió
nosotrosdespedimosdespedimos
ustedesdespidendespidieron
ellos/ellasdespidendespidieron

45. Elegir – to choose

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yoelijoelegí
eligeselegiste
él/ellaeligeeligió
nosotroselegimoselegimos
ustedeseligeneligieron
ellos/ellaseligeneligieron

46. Medir – to measure

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yomidomedí
midesmediste
él/ellamidemidió
nosotrosmedimosmedimos
ustedesmidenmidieron
ellos/ellasmidenmidieron

47. Pedir – to ask for

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yopidopedí
pidespediste
él/ellapidepidió
nosotrospedimospedimos
ustedespidenpidieron
ellos/ellaspidenpidieron

48. Repetir – to repeat

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yorepitorepetí
repiterepetiste
él/ellarepiterepitió
nosotrosrepetimosrepetimos
ustedesrepitenrepitieron
ellos/ellasrepitenrepitieron

49. Seguir – to follow

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yosigoseguí
siguesseguiste
él/ellasiguesiguió
nosotrosseguimosseguimos
ustedessiguensiguieron
ellos/ellassiguensiguieron

50. Servir – to serve

PronounPresent TensePast Tense
yosirvoserví
sirvesserviste
él/ellasirvesirvió
nosotrosservimosservimos
ustedessirvensirvieron
ellos/ellassirvensirvieron

Exercise 5

Fill in the blank using the right Spanish irregular verb conjugation:

  1. ¿ _____ boletos para el partido? (did you get tickets for the game?)
  2. Yo ______ tu tarea. (I corrected your homework.)
  3. ¿Tú _____ esa caja? (Did you measure that box?)
  4. Karla ______ ese vestido. (Karla chose that dress.)
  5. 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!

How To Use the 50 Most Common Spanish Irregular Verbs (6)

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How To Use the 50 Most Common Spanish Irregular Verbs (10)

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Want more in-depth Spanish grammar lessons? Check these out!

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Answer Key

Exercise 1:

1) fui 2) dio 3) tengo 4) somos 5) han

Exercise 2:

1) viene 2) quepo 3) juego 4) trajo 5) caí

Exercise 3:

1) entendiste 2) mintió 3) pensé 4) cerró 5) siento

Exercise 4:

1) mordió 2) costó 3) encuentro 4) colgó 5) huele

Exercise 5:

1) conseguiste 2) corregí 3) mediste 4) eligió 5) siguió

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Luis F. Dominguez

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

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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