Abrirse Conjugation in Spanish
abrirse means "to open up" in English, and it comes up when people talk about the world through travel, new ideas at university, the door in the wind and the sky after the storm. This page gives you the complete conjugation of abrirse in every tense and mood — present, preterite, imperfect, future, conditional, the four perfect tenses, both subjunctive tenses and the imperative — with all six persons, plus the gerund and the past participle. Every form below comes from VerbFlow's verified conjugation tables, so you can trust the accents and the spelling changes. abrirse is a Reflexive irregular in past-participle, present-perfect, pluperfect, future-perfect, conditional-perfect -ir verb, and the notes under each tense explain exactly where it follows the rules and where it breaks them. To hear it in a real sentence: Cada día, yo me abro al mundo con los viajes. — "Every day, I open up to the world through travel." Work through the tables, read the notes, then test yourself with the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: abrirse
- English: to open up
- Verb type: Reflexive irregular in past-participle, present-perfect, pluperfect, future-perfect, conditional-perfect -ir verb
- Gerund: abriendo
- Past participle: abierto
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all compound tenses use haber + abierto)
- Reflexive: yes — always use it with the reflexive pronouns me, te, se, nos, os, se.
Full conjugation table
Every tense of abrirse with all six persons. The gerund is abriendo and the past participle is abierto.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | abro |
| tú | abres |
| él/ella/Ud. | abre |
| nosotros/as | abrimos |
| vosotros/as | abrís |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abren |
Preterite (past)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | abrí |
| tú | abriste |
| él/ella/Ud. | abrió |
| nosotros/as | abrimos |
| vosotros/as | abristeis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abrieron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | abría |
| tú | abrías |
| él/ella/Ud. | abría |
| nosotros/as | abríamos |
| vosotros/as | abríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abrían |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | abriré |
| tú | abrirás |
| él/ella/Ud. | abrirá |
| nosotros/as | abriremos |
| vosotros/as | abriréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abrirán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | abriría |
| tú | abrirías |
| él/ella/Ud. | abriría |
| nosotros/as | abriríamos |
| vosotros/as | abriríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abrirían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he abierto |
| tú | has abierto |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha abierto |
| nosotros/as | hemos abierto |
| vosotros/as | habéis abierto |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han abierto |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había abierto |
| tú | habías abierto |
| él/ella/Ud. | había abierto |
| nosotros/as | habíamos abierto |
| vosotros/as | habíais abierto |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían abierto |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré abierto |
| tú | habrás abierto |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá abierto |
| nosotros/as | habremos abierto |
| vosotros/as | habréis abierto |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán abierto |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría abierto |
| tú | habrías abierto |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría abierto |
| nosotros/as | habríamos abierto |
| vosotros/as | habríais abierto |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían abierto |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | abra |
| tú | abras |
| él/ella/Ud. | abra |
| nosotros/as | abramos |
| vosotros/as | abráis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abran |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | abriera |
| tú | abrieras |
| él/ella/Ud. | abriera |
| nosotros/as | abriéramos |
| vosotros/as | abrierais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abrieran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | abre |
| él/ella/Ud. | abra |
| nosotros/as | abramos |
| vosotros/as | abrid |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abran |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | abras |
| él/ella/Ud. | abra |
| nosotros/as | abramos |
| vosotros/as | abráis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abran |
Notes on each tense
A short note for every tense: when it is used, one example, and anything irregular about abrirse in that tense.
Present indicative
The present indicative of abrirse is used for routines, habits, general truths and things happening right now. Cada día, yo me abro al mundo con los viajes. — "Every day, I open up to the world through travel." For abrirse this tense follows the regular -ir pattern: the stem abr- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Preterite (past)
The preterite (past) of abrirse is used for one action that started and finished in the past. Ayer, yo me abrí a nuevas ideas en la universidad. — "Yesterday, I opened up to new ideas at university." For abrirse this tense follows the regular -ir pattern: the stem abr- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Imperfect
The imperfect of abrirse is used for an ongoing or repeated action in the past, background description and habits that no longer happen. Antes, yo me abría la puerta con el viento. — "In the past, I used to open up the door in the wind." For abrirse this tense follows the regular -ir pattern: the stem abr- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Future
The future of abrirse is used for what will happen, plans and predictions. Mañana, nosotros nos abriremos el cielo después de la tormenta. — "Tomorrow, we will open up the sky after the storm." For abrirse this tense follows the regular -ir pattern: the stem abr- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Conditional
The conditional of abrirse is used for what would happen, hypothetical situations and polite requests. Si pudieras, tú te abrirías al mundo con los viajes. — "If you could, you would open up to the world through travel." For abrirse this tense follows the regular -ir pattern: the stem abr- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Present perfect
The present perfect of abrirse is used for an action completed in the recent past that still matters now, or life experience up to now. Yo me he abierto a nuevas ideas en la universidad. — "I have opened up to new ideas at university." In this tense abrirse is irregular: memorise the forms in the table above — for example, yo he abierto and él ha abierto. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Pluperfect
The pluperfect of abrirse is used for an action that had already happened before another past action. Antes de la fiesta, yo me había abierto la puerta con el viento. — "Before the party, I had opened up the door in the wind." In this tense abrirse is irregular: memorise the forms in the table above — for example, yo había abierto and él había abierto. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Future perfect
The future perfect of abrirse is used for an action that will be finished by a point in the future. Para mañana, yo me habré abierto el cielo después de la tormenta. — "By tomorrow, I will have opened up the sky after the storm." In this tense abrirse is irregular: memorise the forms in the table above — for example, yo habré abierto and él habrá abierto. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Conditional perfect
The conditional perfect of abrirse is used for what would have happened if things had been different. Si hubiera podido, yo me habría abierto al mundo con los viajes. — "If I had been able to, I would have opened up to the world through travel." In this tense abrirse is irregular: memorise the forms in the table above — for example, yo habría abierto and él habría abierto. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Present subjunctive
The present subjunctive of abrirse is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and requests after expressions such as espero que. Espero que él se abra a nuevas ideas en la universidad. — "I hope that he/she opens up to new ideas at university." For abrirse this tense follows the regular -ir pattern: the stem abr- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
The imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of abrirse is used for the same subjunctive meanings in the past, and in si clauses about unreal situations. Si él se abriera la puerta con el viento, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she opened up the door in the wind, everything would turn out better." For abrirse this tense follows the regular -ir pattern: the stem abr- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Imperative (affirmative)
The imperative (affirmative) of abrirse is used for orders, instructions and invitations. ¡Que se abra el cielo después de la tormenta! — "Let him/her open up the sky after the storm!" For abrirse this tense follows the regular -ir pattern: the stem abr- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Imperative (negative)
The imperative (negative) of abrirse is used for prohibitions and negative orders. No te abras al mundo con los viajes. — "Do not open up to the world through travel." For abrirse this tense follows the regular -ir pattern: the stem abr- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Examples: abrirse in real sentences
Ten sentences with abrirse, one for each main tense, each with its English translation. Read them aloud, then try changing the person and the complement to make your own versions.
- Cada día, yo me abro al mundo con los viajes. — "Every day, I open up to the world through travel." This is the present tense, used for a habit.
- Ayer, yo me abrí a nuevas ideas en la universidad. — "Yesterday, I opened up to new ideas at university." This is the preterite, one finished action.
- Antes, yo me abría la puerta con el viento. — "In the past, I used to open up the door in the wind." This is the imperfect, a repeated action in the past.
- Mañana, nosotros nos abriremos el cielo después de la tormenta. — "Tomorrow, we will open up the sky after the storm." This is the future tense, a plan for tomorrow.
- Si pudieras, tú te abrirías al mundo con los viajes. — "If you could, you would open up to the world through travel." This is the conditional, something that would happen.
- Yo me he abierto a nuevas ideas en la universidad. — "I have opened up to new ideas at university." This is the present perfect, an action with present relevance.
- Espero que él se abra la puerta con el viento. — "I hope that he/she opens up the door in the wind." This is the present subjunctive, after espero que.
- Si él se abriera el cielo después de la tormenta, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she opened up the sky after the storm, everything would turn out better." This is the imperfect subjunctive, in a si clause.
- ¡No te abras al mundo con los viajes! — "Do not open up to the world through travel!" This is the imperative, a direct order or request.
- Ahora, Yo me estoy abriendo a nuevas ideas en la universidad. — "Now, I am opening up to new ideas at university." This is the progressive, with estar and the gerund.
Common mistakes with abrirse
The errors learners actually make with abrirse, each with the wrong form, the right form, and why it is wrong.
Mistake 1: Forgetting the reflexive pronoun
- Wrong: Yo abro al mundo con los viajes.
- Right: Yo me abro al mundo con los viajes.
- Why: abrirse is reflexive, so the pronoun is part of the verb: Yo me abro al mundo con los viajes.. Without me the sentence is incomplete, and it sounds as if the action happens to someone else.
Mistake 2: Using a regular participle
- Wrong: Yo me he abrido al mundo con los viajes.
- Right: Yo me he abierto al mundo con los viajes.
- Why: The participle of abrirse is irregular: abierto. The regular-looking form abrido does not exist, so every perfect tense needs the irregular participle.
Mistake 3: Using the present tense for yesterday
- Wrong: Ayer, yo me abro a nuevas ideas en la universidad.
- Right: Ayer, yo me abrí a nuevas ideas en la universidad.
- Why: Ayer means yesterday, so the action is finished and needs the preterite. The present tense is for habits and routines, not for yesterday: Ayer, yo me abrí a nuevas ideas en la universidad. — "Yesterday, I opened up to new ideas at university."
Mistake 4: Mixing up the gerund and the participle
- Wrong: Me estoy abierto la puerta con el viento.
- Right: Me estoy abriendo la puerta con el viento.
- Why: After estar you need the gerund abriendo for the progressive. The participle abierto goes with haber in the perfect tenses (me he abierto), never after estar.
Mistake 5: Using the él form for nosotros
- Wrong: Nosotros nos abre al mundo con los viajes.
- Right: Nosotros nos abrimos al mundo con los viajes.
- Why: The person and the ending must match: nosotros takes abrimos, while abre belongs to él and ella. Check the person first, then choose the form.
Quiz: abrirse conjugation
Test yourself with ten questions on abrirse. The answers are explained, so read them even when you get a question right.
1. What is the yo form of abrirse in the present tense?
- (a) abro
- (b) abres
- (c) abre
- (d) abrimos
Answer: (a) abro. The yo form is abro. Check the person before you answer.
2. What is the tú form of abrirse in the present tense?
- (a) abro
- (b) abre
- (c) abrimos
- (d) abres
Answer: (d) abres. The tú form is abres. Check the person before you answer.
3. What is the él/ella form of abrirse in the present tense?
- (a) abres
- (b) abrimos
- (c) abre
- (d) abro
Answer: (c) abre. The él/ella form is abre. Check the person before you answer.
4. What is the nosotros form of abrirse in the present tense?
- (a) abre
- (b) abrimos
- (c) abro
- (d) abres
Answer: (b) abrimos. The nosotros form is abrimos. Check the person before you answer.
5. What is the ellos/ellas form of abrirse in the present tense?
- (a) abren
- (b) abro
- (c) abres
- (d) abre
Answer: (a) abren. The ellos/ellas form is abren. Check the person before you answer.
6. What is the gerund of abrirse?
- (a) abriendo
- (b) abierto
- (c) abro
- (d) abrirse
Answer: (a) abriendo. The gerund is abriendo, used for the progressive: me estoy abriendo.
7. What is the past participle of abrirse?
- (a) abriendo
- (b) abrí
- (c) abrirse
- (d) abierto
Answer: (d) abierto. The past participle is abierto, used with haber in all perfect tenses: me he abierto.
8. Complete the sentence: Cada día, yo ___ al mundo con los viajes.
- (a) abre
- (b) abrimos
- (c) abro
- (d) abres
Answer: (c) abro. The sentence needs the yo form abro (Every day, I open up to the world through travel.)
9. What is the yo form of abrirse in the preterite?
- (a) abrimos
- (b) abrí
- (c) abriste
- (d) abrió
Answer: (b) abrí. The yo preterite is abrí. The preterite describes one finished action.
10. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ la puerta con el viento.
- (a) abras
- (b) abramos
- (c) abráis
- (d) abra
Answer: (d) abra. After espero que Spanish needs the subjunctive, and the él form is abra.
Frequently asked questions about abrirse
Is abrirse regular?
Not entirely. abrirse is mostly regular, but its past participle is irregular: abierto instead of the regular form. That irregular participle appears in every perfect tense — he abierto, había abierto — so learn it by heart. All the other tenses follow the regular -ir pattern.
What does abrirse mean, and when do I use it?
abrirse means "to open up" in English. Use it when you talk about the world through travel, new ideas at university, the door in the wind and the sky after the storm — for example: Yo me abro al mundo con los viajes. — "I open up to the world through travel." It is a practical verb for everyday conversation, and it appears in all the tenses on this page.
How do you say it in a real sentence?
A natural sentence is: Yo me abro al mundo con los viajes. — "I open up to the world through travel." Change the person using the table above, and change the complement to talk about your own life: the verb stays the same, only the ending changes.
Is abrirse reflexive?
Yes. abrirse is reflexive, so it always travels with a pronoun: me, te, se, nos, os, se. Yo me abro al mundo con los viajes. — "I open up to the world through travel." If you drop the pronoun, the sentence is incomplete. The pronoun goes before the conjugated verb, and it attaches to the end of the gerund and of affirmative imperatives.
When do I use the present tense instead of the preterite with abrirse?
Use the present for habits and routines: Yo me abro al mundo con los viajes. — "I open up to the world through travel." Use the preterite for one finished action: Ayer, yo me abrí al mundo con los viajes. — "Yesterday, I opened up to the world through travel." If the action happens regularly, choose the present; if it happened once and is finished, choose the preterite.