Abrocharse Conjugation in Spanish
abrocharse means "to button oneself up" in English, and it comes up when people talk about his seat belt in the car, his shoes before running, his jacket in the street and his coat before going out. This page gives you the complete conjugation of abrocharse 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. abrocharse is a Reflexive regular -ar 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 abrocho el cinturón en el coche. — "Every day, I button oneself up his seat belt in the car." Work through the tables, read the notes, then test yourself with the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: abrocharse
- English: to button oneself up
- Verb type: Reflexive regular -ar verb
- Gerund: abrochando
- Past participle: abrochado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all compound tenses use haber + abrochado)
- Reflexive: yes — always use it with the reflexive pronouns me, te, se, nos, os, se.
Full conjugation table
Every tense of abrocharse with all six persons. The gerund is abrochando and the past participle is abrochado.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | abrocho |
| tú | abrochas |
| él/ella/Ud. | abrocha |
| nosotros/as | abrochamos |
| vosotros/as | abrocháis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abrochan |
Preterite (past)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | abroché |
| tú | abrochaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | abrochó |
| nosotros/as | abrochamos |
| vosotros/as | abrochasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abrocharon |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | abrochaba |
| tú | abrochabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | abrochaba |
| nosotros/as | abrochábamos |
| vosotros/as | abrochabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abrochaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | abrocharé |
| tú | abrocharás |
| él/ella/Ud. | abrochará |
| nosotros/as | abrocharemos |
| vosotros/as | abrocharéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abrocharán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | abrocharía |
| tú | abrocharías |
| él/ella/Ud. | abrocharía |
| nosotros/as | abrocharíamos |
| vosotros/as | abrocharíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abrocharían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he abrochado |
| tú | has abrochado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha abrochado |
| nosotros/as | hemos abrochado |
| vosotros/as | habéis abrochado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han abrochado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había abrochado |
| tú | habías abrochado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había abrochado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos abrochado |
| vosotros/as | habíais abrochado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían abrochado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré abrochado |
| tú | habrás abrochado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá abrochado |
| nosotros/as | habremos abrochado |
| vosotros/as | habréis abrochado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán abrochado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría abrochado |
| tú | habrías abrochado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría abrochado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos abrochado |
| vosotros/as | habríais abrochado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían abrochado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | abroche |
| tú | abroches |
| él/ella/Ud. | abroche |
| nosotros/as | abrochemos |
| vosotros/as | abrochéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abrochen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | abrochara |
| tú | abrocharas |
| él/ella/Ud. | abrochara |
| nosotros/as | abrocháramos |
| vosotros/as | abrocharais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abrocharan |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | abrocha |
| él/ella/Ud. | abroche |
| nosotros/as | abrochemos |
| vosotros/as | abrochad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abrochen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | abroches |
| él/ella/Ud. | abroche |
| nosotros/as | abrochemos |
| vosotros/as | abrochéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abrochen |
Notes on each tense
A short note for every tense: when it is used, one example, and anything irregular about abrocharse in that tense.
Present indicative
The present indicative of abrocharse is used for routines, habits, general truths and things happening right now. Cada día, yo me abrocho el cinturón en el coche. — "Every day, I button oneself up his seat belt in the car." For abrocharse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem abroch- 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 abrocharse is used for one action that started and finished in the past. Ayer, yo me abroché los zapatos antes de correr. — "Yesterday, I buttoned oneself up his shoes before running." For abrocharse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem abroch- 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 abrocharse is used for an ongoing or repeated action in the past, background description and habits that no longer happen. Antes, yo me abrochaba la chaqueta en la calle. — "In the past, I used to button oneself up his jacket in the street." For abrocharse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem abroch- 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 abrocharse is used for what will happen, plans and predictions. Mañana, nosotros nos abrocharemos el abrigo antes de salir. — "Tomorrow, we will button oneself up his coat before going out." For abrocharse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem abroch- 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 abrocharse is used for what would happen, hypothetical situations and polite requests. Si pudieras, tú te abrocharías el cinturón en el coche. — "If you could, you would button oneself up his seat belt in the car." For abrocharse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem abroch- 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 abrocharse is used for an action completed in the recent past that still matters now, or life experience up to now. Yo me he abrochado los zapatos antes de correr. — "I have buttoned oneself up his shoes before running." For abrocharse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem abroch- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Pluperfect
The pluperfect of abrocharse is used for an action that had already happened before another past action. Antes de la fiesta, yo me había abrochado la chaqueta en la calle. — "Before the party, I had buttoned oneself up his jacket in the street." For abrocharse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem abroch- plus the usual endings. 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 abrocharse is used for an action that will be finished by a point in the future. Para mañana, yo me habré abrochado el abrigo antes de salir. — "By tomorrow, I will have buttoned oneself up his coat before going out." For abrocharse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem abroch- plus the usual endings. 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 abrocharse is used for what would have happened if things had been different. Si hubiera podido, yo me habría abrochado el cinturón en el coche. — "If I had been able to, I would have buttoned oneself up his seat belt in the car." For abrocharse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem abroch- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Present subjunctive
The present subjunctive of abrocharse is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and requests after expressions such as espero que. Espero que él se abroche los zapatos antes de correr. — "I hope that he/she buttons oneself up his shoes before running." For abrocharse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem abroch- 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 abrocharse is used for the same subjunctive meanings in the past, and in si clauses about unreal situations. Si él se abrochara la chaqueta en la calle, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she buttoned oneself up his jacket in the street, everything would turn out better." For abrocharse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem abroch- 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 abrocharse is used for orders, instructions and invitations. ¡Que se abroche el abrigo antes de salir! — "Let him/her button oneself up his coat before going out!" For abrocharse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem abroch- 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 abrocharse is used for prohibitions and negative orders. No te abroches el cinturón en el coche. — "Do not button oneself up his seat belt in the car." For abrocharse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem abroch- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Examples: abrocharse in real sentences
Ten sentences with abrocharse, 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 abrocho el cinturón en el coche. — "Every day, I button oneself up his seat belt in the car." This is the present tense, used for a habit.
- Ayer, yo me abroché los zapatos antes de correr. — "Yesterday, I buttoned oneself up his shoes before running." This is the preterite, one finished action.
- Antes, yo me abrochaba la chaqueta en la calle. — "In the past, I used to button oneself up his jacket in the street." This is the imperfect, a repeated action in the past.
- Mañana, nosotros nos abrocharemos el abrigo antes de salir. — "Tomorrow, we will button oneself up his coat before going out." This is the future tense, a plan for tomorrow.
- Si pudieras, tú te abrocharías el cinturón en el coche. — "If you could, you would button oneself up his seat belt in the car." This is the conditional, something that would happen.
- Yo me he abrochado los zapatos antes de correr. — "I have buttoned oneself up his shoes before running." This is the present perfect, an action with present relevance.
- Espero que él se abroche la chaqueta en la calle. — "I hope that he/she buttons oneself up his jacket in the street." This is the present subjunctive, after espero que.
- Si él se abrochara el abrigo antes de salir, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she buttoned oneself up his coat before going out, everything would turn out better." This is the imperfect subjunctive, in a si clause.
- ¡No te abroches el cinturón en el coche! — "Do not button oneself up his seat belt in the car!" This is the imperative, a direct order or request.
- Ahora, Yo me estoy abrochando los zapatos antes de correr. — "Now, I am buttoning oneself up his shoes before running." This is the progressive, with estar and the gerund.
Common mistakes with abrocharse
The errors learners actually make with abrocharse, each with the wrong form, the right form, and why it is wrong.
Mistake 1: Forgetting the reflexive pronoun
- Wrong: Yo abrocho el cinturón en el coche.
- Right: Yo me abrocho el cinturón en el coche.
- Why: abrocharse is reflexive, so the pronoun is part of the verb: Yo me abrocho el cinturón en el coche.. Without me the sentence is incomplete, and it sounds as if the action happens to someone else.
Mistake 2: Dropping the accent on the vosotros form
- Wrong: Vosotros os abrochais el cinturón en el coche.
- Right: Vosotros os abrocháis el cinturón en el coche.
- Why: The vosotros form abrocháis carries a written accent. Without it the word is misspelled, and in writing the accent is part of the form.
Mistake 3: Using the present tense for yesterday
- Wrong: Ayer, yo me abrocho los zapatos antes de correr.
- Right: Ayer, yo me abroché los zapatos antes de correr.
- 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 abroché los zapatos antes de correr. — "Yesterday, I buttoned oneself up his shoes before running."
Mistake 4: Mixing up the gerund and the participle
- Wrong: Me estoy abrochado la chaqueta en la calle.
- Right: Me estoy abrochando la chaqueta en la calle.
- Why: After estar you need the gerund abrochando for the progressive. The participle abrochado goes with haber in the perfect tenses (me he abrochado), never after estar.
Mistake 5: Using the él form for nosotros
- Wrong: Nosotros nos abrocha el cinturón en el coche.
- Right: Nosotros nos abrochamos el cinturón en el coche.
- Why: The person and the ending must match: nosotros takes abrochamos, while abrocha belongs to él and ella. Check the person first, then choose the form.
Quiz: abrocharse conjugation
Test yourself with ten questions on abrocharse. The answers are explained, so read them even when you get a question right.
1. What is the yo form of abrocharse in the present tense?
- (a) abrochamos
- (b) abrocho
- (c) abrochas
- (d) abrocha
Answer: (b) abrocho. The yo form is abrocho. Check the person before you answer.
2. What is the tú form of abrocharse in the present tense?
- (a) abrochas
- (b) abrocho
- (c) abrocha
- (d) abrochamos
Answer: (a) abrochas. The tú form is abrochas. Check the person before you answer.
3. What is the él/ella form of abrocharse in the present tense?
- (a) abrocho
- (b) abrochas
- (c) abrochamos
- (d) abrocha
Answer: (d) abrocha. The él/ella form is abrocha. Check the person before you answer.
4. What is the nosotros form of abrocharse in the present tense?
- (a) abrochas
- (b) abrocha
- (c) abrochamos
- (d) abrocho
Answer: (c) abrochamos. The nosotros form is abrochamos. Check the person before you answer.
5. What is the ellos/ellas form of abrocharse in the present tense?
- (a) abrocha
- (b) abrochan
- (c) abrocho
- (d) abrochas
Answer: (b) abrochan. The ellos/ellas form is abrochan. Check the person before you answer.
6. What is the gerund of abrocharse?
- (a) abrocharse
- (b) abrochando
- (c) abrochado
- (d) abrocho
Answer: (b) abrochando. The gerund is abrochando, used for the progressive: me estoy abrochando.
7. What is the past participle of abrocharse?
- (a) abrochado
- (b) abrochando
- (c) abroché
- (d) abrocharse
Answer: (a) abrochado. The past participle is abrochado, used with haber in all perfect tenses: me he abrochado.
8. Complete the sentence: Cada día, yo ___ el cinturón en el coche.
- (a) abrochas
- (b) abrocha
- (c) abrochamos
- (d) abrocho
Answer: (d) abrocho. The sentence needs the yo form abrocho (Every day, I button oneself up his seat belt in the car.)
9. What is the yo form of abrocharse in the preterite?
- (a) abrochó
- (b) abrochamos
- (c) abroché
- (d) abrochaste
Answer: (c) abroché. The yo preterite is abroché. The preterite describes one finished action.
10. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ la chaqueta en la calle.
- (a) abroche
- (b) abroches
- (c) abrochemos
- (d) abrochéis
Answer: (a) abroche. After espero que Spanish needs the subjunctive, and the él form is abroche.
Frequently asked questions about abrocharse
Is abrocharse regular?
Yes. abrocharse is a regular -ar verb: abrocho, abroché, abrochaba, abrocharé. There are no spelling changes and no stem changes, so once you know the endings you can conjugate it in every tense.
What does abrocharse mean, and when do I use it?
abrocharse means "to button oneself up" in English. Use it when you talk about his seat belt in the car, his shoes before running, his jacket in the street and his coat before going out — for example: Yo me abrocho el cinturón en el coche. — "I button oneself up his seat belt in the car." 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 abrocho el cinturón en el coche. — "I button oneself up his seat belt in the car." 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 abrocharse reflexive?
Yes. abrocharse is reflexive, so it always travels with a pronoun: me, te, se, nos, os, se. Yo me abrocho el cinturón en el coche. — "I button oneself up his seat belt in the car." 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 abrocharse?
Use the present for habits and routines: Yo me abrocho el cinturón en el coche. — "I button oneself up his seat belt in the car." Use the preterite for one finished action: Ayer, yo me abroché el cinturón en el coche. — "Yesterday, I buttoned oneself up his seat belt in the car." If the action happens regularly, choose the present; if it happened once and is finished, choose the preterite.