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June 16, 2020 by Luis F. Dominguez Homeschooling, Spanish Grammar 0 comments

How To Use the 50 Most Common Spanish Irregular Verbs

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

spanish irregular verbs

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. 

The Top 10

1. Ser – to be

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo soyfui
túeresfuiste
él/ellaesfue
nosotrossomosfuimos
ustedessonfueron
ellos/ellassonfueron

2. Estar – to be

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo estoyestuve
túestásestuviste
él/ellaestáestuvo
nosotrosestamosestuvimos
ustedesestánestuvieron
ellos/ellasestánestuvieron

3. Tener – to have (possession)

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo tengotuve
tútienestuviste
él/ellatienetuvo
nosotrostenemostuvimos
ustedestienentuvieron
ellos/ellastienentuvieron

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

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo hehube
túhashubiste
él/ellahahubo
nosotroshemoshubimos
ustedeshanhubieron
ellos/ellashanhubieron

5. Hacer – to do, make

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo hagohice
túhaceshiciste
él/ellahacehizo
nosotroshacemoshicimos
ustedeshacenhicieron
ellos/ellashacenhicieron

6. Ir – to go

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo voyfui
túvasfuiste
él/ellavafue
nosotrosvamosfuimos
ustedesvanfueron
ellos/ellasvanfueron

7. Ver – to see

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo veovi
túvesviste
él/ellavevio
nosotrosvemosvimos
ustedesvenvieron
ellos/ellasvenvieron

8. Decir – to say

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo digodije
túdicesdijiste
él/elladicedijo
nosotrosdecimosdijimos
ustedesdicendijeron
ellos/ellasdicendijeron

9. Poder – to be able, can

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo puedopude
túpuedespudiste
él/ellapuedepudo
nosotrospodemospudimos
ustedespuedenpudieron
ellos/ellaspuedenpudieron

10. Dar – to give

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo doydi
túdasdiste
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

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo conozcoconocí
túconocesconociste
él/ellaconoceconoció
nosotrosconocemosconocimos
ustedesconocenconocieron
ellos/ellasconocenconocieron

12. Saber – to know

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo sésupe
túsabessupiste
él/ellasabesupo
nosotrossabemossupimos
ustedessabensupieron
ellos/ellassabensupieron

13. Poner – to put

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo pongopuse
túponespusiste
él/ellaponepuso
nosotrosponemospusimos
ustedesponenpusieron
ellos/ellasponenpusieron

14. Salir – to exit

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo salgosalí
túsalessaliste
él/ellasalesalió
nosotrossalimossalimos
ustedessalensalieron
ellos/ellassalensalieron

15. Traer – to bring

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo traigotraje
tútraestrajiste
él/ellatraetrajo
nosotrostraemostrajimos
ustedestraentrajeron
ellos/ellastraentrajeron

16. Venir – to come

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo vengovine
túvienesviniste
él/ellavienevino
nosotrosvenimosvinimos
ustedesvienenvinieron
ellos/ellasvienenvinieron

17. Oír – to hear

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo oigooí
túoyesoíste
él/ellaoyeoyó
nosotrosoímosoímos
ustedesoyenoyeron
ellos/ellasoyenoyeron

18. Caer – to fall

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo caigocaí
túcaescaíste
él/ellacaecayó
nosotroscaemoscaímos
ustedescaencayeron
ellos/ellascaencayeron

19. Caber – to fit

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo quepocupe
túcabescupiste
él/ellacabecupo
nosotroscabemoscupimos
ustedescabencupieron
ellos/ellascabencupieron

Stem-Changing from u to ue

20. Jugar – to play

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo juegojugué
tújuegasjugaste
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

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo cierrocerré
túcierrascerraste
él/ellacierracerró
nosotroscerramoscerramos
ustedescierrancerraron
ellos/ellascierrancerraron

22. Comenzar – to begin

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo comienzocomencé
túcomienzascomenzaste
él/ellacomienzacomenzó
nosotroscomenzamoscomenzamos
ustedescomienzancomenzaron
ellos/ellascomienzancomenzaron

23. Empezar – to begin

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo empiezoempecé
túempiezasempezaste
él/ellaempiezaempezó
nosotrosempezamosempezamos
ustedesempiezanempezaron
ellos/ellasempiezanempezaron

24. Entender – to understand

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo entiendoentendí
túentiendesentendiste
él/ellaentiendeentendió
nosotrosentendemosentendimos
ustedesentiendenentendieron
ellos/ellasentiendenentendieron

25. Mentir – to lie

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo mientomentí
túmientesmentiste
él/ellamientemintió
nosotrosmentimosmentimos
ustedesmientenmintieron
ellos/ellasmientenmintieron

26. Negar – to deny

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo niegonegué
túniegasnegaste
él/ellanieganegó
nosotrosnegamosnegamos
ustedesniegannegaron
ellos/ellasniegannegaron

27. Pensar – to think

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo piensopensé
túpiensaspensaste
él/ellapiensapensó
nosotrospensamospensamos
ustedespiensanpensaron
ellos/ellaspiensanpensaron

28. Perder – to lose

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo pierdoperdí
túpierdesperdiste
él/ellapierdeperdió
nosotrosperdemosperdimos
ustedespierdenperdieron
ellos/ellaspierdenperdieron

29. Recomendar – to recommend

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo recomiendorecomendé
túrecomiendasrecomendaste
él/ellarecomiendarecomendó
nosotrosrecomendamosrecomendamos
ustedesrecomiendanrecomendaron
ellos/ellasrecomiendanrecomendaron

30. Sentir – to feel

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo sientosentí
túsientessentiste
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

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo cuelgocolgué
túcuelgascolgaste
él/ellacuelgacolgó
nosotroscolgamoscolgamos
ustedescuelgancolgaron
ellos/ellascuelgancolgaron

32. Contar – to count, to tell

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo cuentoconté
túcuentascontaste
él/ellacuentacontó
nosotroscontamoscontamos
ustedescuentancontaron
ellos/ellascuentancontaron

33. Costar – to cost

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo cuestocosté
túcuestascostaste
él/ellacuestacostó
nosotroscostamoscostamos
ustedescuestancostaron
ellos/ellascuestancostaron

34. Doler – to hurt

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo duelodolí
túduelesdoliste
él/elladueledolió
nosotrosdolemosdolimos
ustedesduelendolieron
ellos/ellasduelendolieron

35. Encontrar – to find

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo encuentroencontré
túencuentrasencontraste
él/ellaencuentraencontró
nosotrosencontramosencontramos
ustedesencuentranencontraron
ellos/ellasencuentranencontraron

36. Morder – to bite

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo muerdomodrí
túmuerdesmordiste
él/ellamuerdemordió
nosotrosmordemosmordimos
ustedesmuerdenmordieron
ellos/ellasmuerdenmordieron

37. Morir – to die

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo mueromorí
túmueresmoriste
él/ellamueremurió
nosotrosmorimosmorimos
ustedesmuerenmurieron
ellos/ellasmuerenmurieron

38. Oler – to smell

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo hueloolí
túhuelesoliste
él/ellahueleolió
nosotrosolemosolimos
ustedeshuelenolieron
ellos/ellashuelenolieron

39. Recordar – to remember

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo recuerdorecordé
túrecuerdasrecordaste
él/ellarecuerdarecordó
nosotrosrecordamosrecordamos
ustedesrecuerdanrecordaron
ellos/ellasrecuerdanrecordaron

40. Volver – to return (from somewhere) 

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo vuelvovolví
túvuelvesvolviste
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

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo compitocompetí
túcompitescompetiste
él/ellacompitecompitió
nosotroscompetimoscompetimos
ustedescompitencompitieron
ellos/ellascompitencompitieron

42. Conseguir – to get, obtain

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo consigoconseguí
túconsiguesconseguiste
él/ellaconsigueconsiguió
nosotrosconseguimosconseguimos
ustedesconsiguenconsiguieron
ellos/ellasconsiguenconsiguieron

43. Corregir – to correct

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo corrijocorregí
túcorrigescorregiste
él/ellacorrigecorrigió
nosotroscorregimoscorregimos
ustedescorrijencorrigieron
ellos/ellascorrijencorrigieron

44. Despedir – to say goodbye, dismiss, fire

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo despidodespedí
túdespidesdespediste
él/elladespidedespidió
nosotrosdespedimosdespedimos
ustedesdespidendespidieron
ellos/ellasdespidendespidieron

45. Elegir – to choose

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo elijoelegí
túeligeselegiste
él/ellaeligeeligió
nosotroselegimoselegimos
ustedeseligeneligieron
ellos/ellaseligeneligieron

46. Medir – to measure

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo midomedí
túmidesmediste
él/ellamidemidió
nosotrosmedimosmedimos
ustedesmidenmidieron
ellos/ellasmidenmidieron

47. Pedir – to ask for

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo pidopedí
túpidespediste
él/ellapidepidió
nosotrospedimospedimos
ustedespidenpidieron
ellos/ellaspidenpidieron

48. Repetir – to repeat

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo repitorepetí
túrepiterepetiste
él/ellarepiterepitió
nosotrosrepetimosrepetimos
ustedesrepitenrepitieron
ellos/ellasrepitenrepitieron

49. Seguir – to follow

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo sigoseguí
túsiguesseguiste
él/ellasiguesiguió
nosotrosseguimosseguimos
ustedessiguensiguieron
ellos/ellassiguensiguieron

50. Servir – to serve

Pronoun Present TensePast Tense
yo sirvoserví
túsirvesserviste
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! 

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

  • An Easy Guide to the WEIRDO Subjunctive
  • How to Master Spanish Sentences with Verbs and Correct Verb Tenses
  • 25+ Spanish Interjections and Exclamations for Spirited Conversations
  • How to Form and Use Past Participles in Spanish
  • How to Talk About Your Habits in Spanish
  • Tan vs Tanto: What’s the Difference?
  • How to Give Congratulations in Spanish
  • Poder Conjugation: Free Spanish Lesson and PDF

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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Latest posts by Luis F. Dominguez (see all)
  • 25+ Spanish Interjections and Exclamations for Spirited Conversations - January 23, 2021
  • How to Form and Use Past Participles in Spanish - January 23, 2021
  • How to Teach Yourself Spanish - January 22, 2021
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