53 Widespread Irregular Verbs in Spanish: A Newbie’s Information

Prime 10 most typical irregular verbs in Spanish

Earlier than diving into the various kinds of Spanish irregular verbs, let’s first take a look at crucial ones to be taught. The next irregular verbs come up in primary conversations and are important to know if you wish to get by in Spanish. 

We’ve included 10 of essentially the most helpful irregular verbs you’ll need to know. Every chart of irregular verbs in Spanish reveals their conjugations within the current and easy previous (preterite) tenses.

1. Ser (to be)

It is a primary state-of-being verb and it’s irregular in most languages. The definition is extra in regards to the everlasting qualities of what’s being described. Mastering the verb ser is important to talking Spanish!

• Soy profesor de México. = I’m a trainer from Mexico.

2. Estar (to be)

The irregular verb estar refers to a state of being that’s non permanent. It could be emotional or bodily, so that is useful to have the ability to describe the way you or another person is feeling.

• Estoy en casa y leo un libro. = I’m at house and I’m studying a e-book.

3. Tener (to have)

Tener is one other important Spanish irregular verb that reveals you’ve possession of an object that you just personal or bodily maintain.

• Tenemos un coche. = Now we have a automobile.

4. Haber (to have)

Much like tener, the verb haber additionally means you’ve possessions of one thing, but it surely’s extra about expressing existence as an auxiliary verb. It will possibly categorical a necessity or a suggestion, too. 

• Hay un libro en su mesa. = There’s a e-book on his desk.

5. Hacer (to do, to make)

It’s probably that you just’ll use the verb hacer virtually each day. This verb refers to creating or doing an motion.

• Tú haces ejercicio todos los días. = You train each day.

6. Ir (to go)

The irregular verb ir is the equal of “go” in English. It signifies a motion by an individual or object. The instance under reveals tips on how to use the irregular preterite verb in Spanish, whereas different examples have been within the current.

• Fui al parque ayer. = I went to the park yesterday.

7. Saber (to know)

Saber is one other essential verb to be taught in Spanish. You’ll use it to indicate you’ve info or perceive tips on how to full an motion or process.

• Ellos saben la respuesta. = They know the reply.

8. Dar (to provide)

Even when it’s not somebody’s birthday, you’ll probably use the verb dar often. This beneficial verb signifies that you just’ll give somebody a gift, give a celebration, or may give somebody info.

• Ustedes dan buenos consejos. = You (all) give good recommendation.

9. Decir (to say, to inform)

When you might want to share some info, use the irregular verb decir.

• Usted cube la verdad. = You (formal) inform the reality.

10. Poder (to have the ability to, to can)

Poder is one other important verb that helps you categorical your talents, beliefs, and so on. It may also be used to ask permission to do one thing, like “Can I sit right here?”

• Yo puedo hablar español. = I can communicate Spanish.

Kinds of Spanish irregular verbs

As you uncover ideas for studying Spanish, you’ll see that there are various kinds of irregular verbs in Spanish. Use the knowledge under to grasp among the patterns you’ll be able to be taught to get the grasp of those phrases.

What to find out about stem-changing verbs

As we talked about beforehand, even essentially the most irregular verbs in Spanish have some common patterns to them. To make them simpler to be taught, we’ve categorized the irregular verbs in Spanish into teams.

The primary and most typical group of Spanish irregular verbs are stem-changing verbs. A stem change refers to when the irregular adjustments happen within the stem of the verb (the choose– in preferir) whereas the verb ending (the “-ir” in preferir) follows the common conjugation sample. 

Let’s take a look at preferir (to choose) for instance. To conjugate a daily -IR verb within the yo type, you’d merely change the -IR ending with “-o.” 

So in case you didn’t know preferir was an irregular verb, you’d in all probability count on it to appear like this: 

• Incorrect: Yo prefero el coloration rosado. 

However preferir is definitely an irregular verb with an e → ie stem change like this: 

• Appropriate: Yo prefiero el coloration rosado. 

10 Spanish stem-changing verbs from e → ie

The primary frequent stem change in irregular verbs is the “e” to “ie” stem change. It is a listing of the most-used irregular verbs that comply with this stem-change sample.

1. cerrar: to shut 
2. empezar: to start
3. entender: to grasp
4. mentir: to lie 
5. negar: to disclaim
6. pensar: to suppose 
7. perder: to lose
8. recomendar: to advocate 
9. sentir: to really feel
10. sugerir: to recommend

Beneath you’ll discover a chart of tips on how to conjugate the verb cerrar for every pronoun. We’ve supplied the conjugated current tense varieties for the primary verb within the listing and bolded the stem change. The remainder of the verbs comply with the identical sample and must be straightforward to determine. Word that stem adjustments don’t happen within the nosotros (first-person plural) and vosotros/as (second-person plural) varieties. 

If you wish to double-check your conjugation, you’ll be able to lookup the verb in a dependable Spanish dictionary, akin to Spanish Dictionary. 

This chart reveals how you’ll conjugate the verb cerrar: 

10 Spanish stem-changing verbs from o → ue

One other sort of stem change in irregular verbs is the “o” to “ue.” 

Beneath is a listing of essentially the most regularly used “o” to “ue” stem-changing verbs. Within the following chart, we’ve solely highlighted the stem change within the first verb, however the remainder of the listing follows the identical sample. 

1. contar: to rely, to inform  
2. costar: to price
3. doler: to harm
4. dormir: to sleep
5. encontrar: to search out
6. llover: to rain
7. morder: to chew
8. morir: to die
9. recordar: to recollect
10. volver: to return from someplace

See what the “o” to “ue” stem change seems to be like with contar:

10 Spanish stem-changing verbs from e → i

The third and final class of stem-changing verbs are verbs with the “e” to “i” stem change. These are 10 verbs that comply with this stem change sample, and the chart reveals how you’ll conjugate the verb competir.

1. competir: to compete
2. conseguir: to get, to acquire
3. corregir: to right
4. despedir: to dismiss, to say goodbye 
5. elegir: to decide on
6. medir: to measure
7. repetir: to repeat
8. seguir: to comply with, to proceed
9. servir: to serve
10. pedir: to ask for, to order

See what the  “e” to “i” stem change seems to be like with competir: 

3 different irregular stem-changing verbs

This remaining group of stem-changing verbs consists of verbs that don’t fairly match into any of the above classes. Whereas they could stand out as outliers, they’re nonetheless regularly used and good to know for on a regular basis conversations. 

1. Jugar (to play)

The verb jugar has a easy stem change from “u” to “ue” and is used to discuss with the motion of taking part in. 

2. Oler (to odor) 

You’ll use oler to point you can odor your grandma’s well-known dessert cooking within the oven. To conjugate it, change the stem vowels from “o” to “hue.”

3. Inquirir (to inquire)

If you need to inquire about when a bus leaves or what you might want to convey to a gathering, use the verb inquirir, which is an efficient instance of a Spanish cognate. The stems vowel adjustments from “i” to “ie.”

10 Spanish irregular verbs that change within the yo (I) type

There’s one final sort of irregular verb we have to cowl to ensure you have all the knowledge you want. Some verbs in Spanish additionally change irregularly when used with yo (first-person singular) varieties. You received’t change this way with different topic pronouns as these varieties are both common or have a daily stem change. 

We’ve included charts of the most typical irregular yo verbs and their current tense conjugations.

1. Conocer (to know)

Convey to family and friends what you recognize about your hobbies and pursuits with the verb conocer.

2. Poner (to place)

If the grocery luggage are actually heavy, you’ll be able to put them down rapidly. The verb poner describes the motion of placing an object someplace.

3. Salir (to go away)

The verb salir is useful to make use of when it’s time to go away a boring social gathering or depart on a trip.

4. Traer (to convey)

It’s well mannered to traer (convey) a considerate reward to a cocktail party, however you’ll additionally need to convey your books to class.

5. Ver (to see)

Ver is a bit totally different from mirar in that it means “to see” or “to understand one thing” like how one can perceive one thing abstractly.

6. Venir (to return)

You’ll be able to ask somebody to return over to your home utilizing the verb venir.

7. Oír (to listen to)

To point you can hear somebody speaking or music taking part in, use the verb oír. 

8. Caber (to suit)

There are two meanings for the verb caber: to suit and to be potential. So, you should use it to point whether or not an object will slot in a sure house or not.

9. Caer (to fall)

If you’re training on a steadiness beam or strolling down the steps, you need to keep away from falling or falling over, and the verb caer is the perfect phrase for that.

10. Valer (to be value, to price)

The verb valer is useful when you might want to point out the worth, value, or price of one thing.

Why are there irregular verbs in Spanish? 

Some irregular verbs in Spanish will be traced again to Latin grammar. Scientists and linguists consider languages evolve with the audio system that use them, however earlier variations of the language—together with their irregularities—usually persist in generally used phrases. The extra a phrase is utilized by folks, the much less probably it’s to vary. 

Over time, irregularities in languages develop and persist for quite a lot of causes: 

• Pace: Audio system usually shorten essentially the most generally used phrases to make them faster to pronounce. 
• Sound: With a purpose to protect a selected pronunciation in a really phonetic language like Spanish, the spelling might have to vary. You may discover that irregular verbs sound higher and are simpler to pronounce than they might be in the event that they have been conjugated usually. 
• Frequency: Extremely used irregular verbs usually tend to stay irregular, whereas much less frequent irregular verbs slowly undertake common patterns or fade away. 

Key takeaways about irregular verbs in Spanish

With greater than 250 irregular verbs within the Spanish language, you’ll want time and apply to be taught all of them. Rosetta Stone’s immersion methodology is extremely useful for nailing down irregular verbs and a lot extra. Within the meantime, listed below are a couple of key issues to recollect as you retain training irregular verbs.

• Spanish irregular verbs change the endings and the stem of the verb when conjugated. Whereas there are a couple of patterns you’ll be able to be taught, some conjugations are utterly irregular and must be memorized.
• Two of the most typical vowel adjustments within the stem of the verb are “e” to “ie” and “o” to “ue.”
• Over time, much less generally used irregular verbs might undertake extra common patterns because the language evolves.