“Wait… why is it yo pienso instead of yo penso?”
If you’ve ever stared at your notes asking that question, you’re officially part of a global club of Spanish learners.
Irregular verbs in Spanish have a bit of a reputation: they’re the rebels of conjugation. While most verbs behave nicely -just change the ending, easy piece- these little tricksters change their stems, their endings, and sometimes everything at once.
But here’s the good news: once you understand the patterns (and practice them in short bursts), you’ll tame these wild verbs in no time. Let’s explore them step by step.
First: A Quick Warm-Up on Regular Verbs
Before diving into irregular verbs in Spanish, let’s salute the dependable regular verbs. They follow a clear formula: keep the stem, swap the ending depending on the pronoun.
Take caminar (“to walk”):
- yo camino, tú caminas, él camina, nosotros caminamos, ustedes caminan
See how the stem camin- never changes? That’s why regular verbs feel comforting; you only memorize the endings.
If all verbs were like this, Spanish would be a breeze. But language loves surprises, and that’s where irregular verbs come in.
Meet the Irregular Verbs in Spanish
Think of irregular verbs in Spanish as three families with different personalities:
- Stem-Changing Verbs (also called “boot verbs”)
- First-Person-Only Irregulars
- The Totally Wild Ones
Knowing which group a verb belongs to makes them far less scary. Let’s unpack them.
Stem-Changing Verbs (“Boot Verbs”)
Stem-changing verbs alter their stem inside the “boot” of the conjugation chart (yo, tú, él/ella, ustedes) but leave nosotros alone.
That’s why teachers sometimes draw a boot around those forms; it’s where the change happens.
There are three common stem changes.
E → IE
Example: pensar (“to think”)
- yo pienso, tú piensas, él piensa, nosotros pensamos, ustedes piensan
Notice how the first “e” becomes ie, except in nosotros, which stays “pensamos.”
Other handy verbs:
- querer → quiero (I want)
- entender → entiendo (I understand)
- empezar → empiezo (I begin)
Tip: Make sentences with your daily routine: “Hoy quiero café,” or “No entiendo esa palabra.”
O → UE
Example: poder (“can, be able to”)
yo puedo, tú puedes, él puede, nosotros podemos, ustedes pueden
More favorites:
- dormir → duermo (I sleep)
- contar → cuento (I count / tell)
- encontrar → encuentro (I find)
Try silly sentences: “Yo cuento ovejas para dormir” (I count sheep to sleep).
E → I
Example: pedir (“to ask for / order”)
yo pido, tú pides, él pide, nosotros pedimos, ustedes piden
Also super practical:
- servir → sirvo (I serve)
- seguir → sigo (I follow / continue)
- repetir → repito (I repeat)
Next time you order food, practice: “Quiero pedir una pizza.”
First-Person-Only Irregulars
Some verbs behave like perfect regular verbs, except when you talk about yourself. Their yo form is special, while the rest stay standard.
For example:
- Hacer (To do or to make): Yo hago, tú haces, éll hace, nosotros hacemos
- Sabes (To know): Yo sé, tú sabes, él sabe, nosotros sabemos
Memory hack: picture yourself putting on a “costume” only for the yo form. The other pronouns don’t need one.
Example sentences:
- “Hoy hago ejercicio.”
- “¿Sabes la respuesta? Sí, yo sé.”
The Completely Irregular Verbs
Then some verbs don’t care about rules. They change so much that you just memorize them like new vocabulary.
SER – “to be” (permanent)
- yo soy, tú eres, él es, nosotros somos, ustedes son
ESTAR – “to be” (temporary/location)
- yo estoy, tú estás, él está, nosotros estamos, ustedes están
Remember: ser = essence, identity; estar = state, place.
Make mini phrases:
- “Yo soy profesora.”
- “Hoy estoy cansado.”
IR – “to go”
- yo voy, tú vas, él va, nosotros vamos, ustedes van
No resemblance to ir, right? But you’ll use it constantly: “Mañana voy al cine.”
DECIR – “to say / tell”
This one mixes a stem change with a special yo form:
- yo digo, tú dices, él dice, nosotros decimos, ustedes dicen
So: E → I for most forms, and yo digo stands alone.
Try: “Yo siempre digo la verdad.”
How to Practice Irregular Verbs in Spanish
Learning irregular verbs in Spanish isn’t about brute force memorization; it’s about smart, playful repetition. Here are some strategies:
1. Use Them in Real Sentences
Instead of drilling lists, put verbs into tiny, real-life phrases:
- “Hoy puedo salir temprano.”
- “Siempre repito mis canciones favoritas.”
- “Nosotros vamos al parque.”
2. Play With Flashcards
On one side: the infinitive (“poder”).
On the other: “yo puedo, tú puedes…” Write only the tricky forms in bold.
3. Listen & Spot
Watch a Spanish series or song lyrics. Highlight each irregular verb you hear. Pause and say it aloud.
4. Mix Them With Regular Verbs
Write short stories combining both:
- “Yo camino por la calle, encuentro un café y pido un té.”
You’ll reinforce the contrast.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Changing the stem in nosotros
Many learners say piensamos instead of pensamos. Remember: the boot skips nosotros. - Forgetting accents
Words like estás or sé need accents; otherwise, they can mean something else. - Mixing ser & estar
Practice with pairs: “Soy feliz” (I’m a happy person) vs. “Estoy feliz” (I feel happy right now).
Irregular verbs in Spanish might look like a mountain at first, but they’re really just a collection of fun mini-puzzles.
Start with the most useful ones (ser, estar, ir, tener, querer, poder) and sprinkle them into your conversations. Every time you say puedo, soy, or voy, you’re training your brain.
Consistency beats cramming. A few sentences each day will build confidence faster than an epic one-time study session.
So next time you’re tempted to sigh at “yo pienso,” remember: you’re not fighting chaos, you’re mastering patterns that millions of Spanish speakers use naturally. With a bit of humor and practice, you’ll soon speak with the same ease.
Which irregular verb has made you laugh, cry, or roll your eyes? Drop it in the comments; we love hearing your stories and helping you tackle tricky spots.
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