Acogerse Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb acogerse means to take refuge, to avail oneself of, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Acogerse means to take refuge, to shelter under something, and also to avail oneself of a law, a right or an offer. It is the reflexive partner of acoger, and it is a spelling-change verb: g becomes j before o and a. Like every Spanish verb, acogerse changes its ending for each person and tense, and this page gives you the complete picture: every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle, all from the verified conjugation tables. For example, in the present tense you say me acojo a la ley de amnistía, and in the preterite you say me acogí bajo el techo durante la tormenta. Work through the tables below, read the notes for each tense, and then test yourself with the examples, the common mistakes and the quiz at the end of the page.

Quick facts

  • Infinitive: acogerse
  • English: to take refuge, to avail oneself of
  • Verb type: irregular verb, reflexive
  • Ending: -er
  • Gerund: acogiendo
  • Past participle: acogido
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + acogido)
  • Reflexive pronouns: me, te, se, nos, os, se — one before every conjugated form, matching the person.
  • Spelling change: Spelling change: g becomes j before e, so the present subjunctive is acoja and the preterite first person is acogí — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes.

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for acogerse, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Acogerse is reflexive and a spelling-change verb: me acojo. It takes a: acogerse a la ley, acogerse a una oferta.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for acogerse. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem. For reflexive verbs, the pronoun column shows the reflexive pronoun that goes before each form.

Present indicative

Person Pronoun Form
yo me acojo
tú te acoges
él/ella/Ud. se acoge
nosotros/as nos acogemos
vosotros/as os acogéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se acogen

Preterite

Person Pronoun Form
yo me acogí
tú te acogiste
él/ella/Ud. se acogió
nosotros/as nos acogimos
vosotros/as os acogisteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se acogieron

Imperfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me acogía
tú te acogías
él/ella/Ud. se acogía
nosotros/as nos acogíamos
vosotros/as os acogíais
ellos/ellas/Uds. se acogían

Future

Person Pronoun Form
yo me acogeré
tú te acogerás
él/ella/Ud. se acogerá
nosotros/as nos acogeremos
vosotros/as os acogeréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se acogerán

Conditional

Person Pronoun Form
yo me acogería
tú te acogerías
él/ella/Ud. se acogería
nosotros/as nos acogeríamos
vosotros/as os acogeríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. se acogerían

Present perfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me he acogido
tú te has acogido
él/ella/Ud. se ha acogido
nosotros/as nos hemos acogido
vosotros/as os habéis acogido
ellos/ellas/Uds. se han acogido

Pluperfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me había acogido
tú te habías acogido
él/ella/Ud. se había acogido
nosotros/as nos habíamos acogido
vosotros/as os habíais acogido
ellos/ellas/Uds. se habían acogido

Future perfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me habré acogido
tú te habrás acogido
él/ella/Ud. se habrá acogido
nosotros/as nos habremos acogido
vosotros/as os habréis acogido
ellos/ellas/Uds. se habrán acogido

Conditional perfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me habría acogido
tú te habrías acogido
él/ella/Ud. se habría acogido
nosotros/as nos habríamos acogido
vosotros/as os habríais acogido
ellos/ellas/Uds. se habrían acogido

Present subjunctive

Person Pronoun Form
yo me acoja
tú te acojas
él/ella/Ud. se acoja
nosotros/as nos acojamos
vosotros/as os acogáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se acojan

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Pronoun Form
yo me acogiera
tú te acogieras
él/ella/Ud. se acogiera
nosotros/as nos acogiéramos
vosotros/as os acogierais
ellos/ellas/Uds. se acogieran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Pronoun Form
tú te acoge
él/ella/Ud. se acoja
nosotros/as nos acojamos
vosotros/as os acoged
ellos/ellas/Uds. se acojan

Imperative (negative)

Person Pronoun Form
tú te acojas
él/ella/Ud. se acoja
nosotros/as nos acojamos
vosotros/as os acogáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se acojan

Gerund and past participle

Form Spanish Use
Gerund acogiendo with estar for the progressive: estoy acogiendo (or me estoy acogiendo for this reflexive verb)
Past participle acogido with haber for the perfect tenses: he acogido

How to use each tense

Present indicative

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For acogerse, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Me acojo a la ley de amnistía. Learn the present forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Preterite

Use the preterite for finished actions with a clear end, often with ayer, el año pasado or anoche. Note the spelling change: g becomes j before e, so the present subjunctive is acoja and the preterite first person is acogí — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes. For acogerse, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, me acogí al plan de ayudas del gobierno. Learn the preterite forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Imperfect

Use the imperfect for background, habits and actions in progress in the past, often with de niño, antes or mientras. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For acogerse, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, me acogía bajo el techo durante la tormenta. Learn the imperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Future

Use the future for plans, predictions and promises, often with mañana, el año que viene or pronto. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For acogerse, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, me acogeré a su derecho de silencio. Learn the future forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Conditional

Use the conditional for polite requests, hypotheticals and what would happen, often with si clauses. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For acogerse, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Me acogería a la ley de amnistía si pudiera. Learn the conditional forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Present perfect

Use the present perfect for recent actions and experiences, often with hoy, esta semana or ya. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For acogerse, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, me he acogido al plan de ayudas del gobierno. Learn the present perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Pluperfect

Use the pluperfect when one past action happened before another past action. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For acogerse, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Me había acogido bajo el techo durante la tormenta antes de salir. Learn the pluperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Future perfect

Use the future perfect for something that will already be finished by a future time. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For acogerse, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, me habré acogido a su derecho de silencio. Learn the future perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Conditional perfect

Use the conditional perfect for what would have happened under different conditions. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For acogerse, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Me habría acogido a la ley de amnistía con más tiempo. Learn the conditional perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Present subjunctive

Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. Note the spelling change: g becomes j before e, so the present subjunctive is acoja and the preterite first person is acogí — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes. For acogerse, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él se acoja al plan de ayudas del gobierno. Learn the present subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past, and note the -ra forms shown here; the -se forms use the same stem. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For acogerse, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él se acogiera bajo el techo durante la tormenta, todo cambiaría. Learn the imperfect subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Imperative (affirmative)

Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. Note the spelling change: g becomes j before e, so the present subjunctive is acoja and the preterite first person is acogí — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes. For acogerse, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: Que se acoja a su derecho de silencio. Learn the affirmative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Imperative (negative)

Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. Note the spelling change: g becomes j before e, so the present subjunctive is acoja and the preterite first person is acogí — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes. For acogerse, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No te acojas a la ley de amnistía. Learn the negative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Example sentences

Ten natural sentences with acogerse, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Me acojo a la ley de amnistía. — I take refuge the amnesty law.
  2. Se acoge al plan de ayudas del gobierno. — He/she takes refuge the government's aid plan.
  3. Ayer, me acogí bajo el techo durante la tormenta. — Yesterday, I took refuge under the roof during the storm.
  4. Antes, nosotros nos acogíamos a su derecho de silencio. — Before, we used to take refuge my right to silence.
  5. Mañana, tú te acogerás a la ley de amnistía. — Tomorrow, you will take refuge the amnesty law.
  6. Yo me acogería al plan de ayudas del gobierno si tuviera más tiempo. — I would take refuge the government's aid plan if I had more time.
  7. Él se ha acogido bajo el techo durante la tormenta. — He has taken refuge under the roof during the storm.
  8. Espero que él se acoja a su derecho de silencio. — I hope he takes refuge my right to silence.
  9. Yo ya me había acogido a la ley de amnistía antes de salir. — I had already taken refuge the amnesty law before leaving.
  10. Ellos se acogían al plan de ayudas del gobierno cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to take refuge the government's aid plan when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo acojo a la ley de amnistía. — Right: Yo me acojo a la ley de amnistía. — Acogerse is reflexive, so the pronoun me is required: without it the verb means something else, or nothing at all.
  2. Wrong: Espero que yo acoge al plan de ayudas del gobierno. — Right: Espero que yo acoja al plan de ayudas del gobierno. — Spelling change: g becomes j before e, so the present subjunctive is acoja, never acoge.
  3. Wrong: Treating acogerse and refugiarse as identical in every context. — Right: Acogerse means to take refuge, to avail oneself of, while refugiarse means to take shelter. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: acogerse fits sentences such as Me acojo a la ley de amnistía, while refugiarse belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy acogido al plan de ayudas del gobierno. — Right: Yo he acogido al plan de ayudas del gobierno. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he acogido, has acogido, ha acogido. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo acogí bajo el techo durante la tormenta todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo acogía bajo el techo durante la tormenta todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (acogía), not the preterite. The preterite (acogí) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

Ten questions on acogerse. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ a la ley de amnistía. (present tense) A. me acojo B. te acoges C. se acoge D. nos acogemos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ al plan de ayudas del gobierno. (preterite) A. me acogí B. te acogiste C. se acogieron D. se acogió

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ bajo el techo durante la tormenta. (imperfect) A. te acogías B. se acogían C. nos acogíamos D. me acogía

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ a su derecho de silencio. (future) A. nos acogeremos B. te acogerás C. me acogeré D. se acogerá

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ a la ley de amnistía si pudiera. (conditional) A. me acogería B. te acogerías C. se acogería D. se acogerían

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ al plan de ayudas del gobierno. (present subjunctive) A. me acoja B. te acojas C. nos acojamos D. se acoja

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ bajo el techo durante la tormenta, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. se acogiera B. nos acogiéramos C. me acogiera D. te acogieras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ a su derecho de silencio. (present perfect) A. se han acogido B. nos hemos acogido C. me he acogido D. te has acogido

  9. Complete the command: No ___ a la ley de amnistía. (negative imperative, tú) A. te acojas B. se acoja C. nos acojamos D. os acogáis

  10. Which is the gerund of acogerse, used with estar for the progressive? A. acogido B. acojo C. acogí D. acogiendo

Answer key

  1. me acojo — The first-person present of acogerse is me acojo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. se acogió — The third-person preterite of acogerse is se acogió, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. nos acogíamos — The nosotros imperfect of acogerse is nos acogíamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. te acogerás — The second-person future of acogerse is te acogerás.
  5. me acogería — The first-person conditional of acogerse is me acogería, the form for what would happen.
  6. se acoja — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of acogerse is se acoja.
  7. me acogiera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of acogerse is me acogiera.
  8. nos hemos acogido — The nosotros present perfect of acogerse is nos hemos acogido: hemos + acogido.
  9. te acojas — The negative tú imperative uses the present subjunctive form with no before it: te acojas.
  10. acogiendo — The gerund of acogerse is acogiendo: estoy acogiendo. The participle acogido is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does acogerse mean in English?

Acogerse means to take refuge, to avail oneself of. It is used in everyday situations such as Me acojo a la ley de amnistía. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is acogerse a reflexive verb?

Yes. Acogerse is reflexive, so it always takes a reflexive pronoun that matches the person: me, te, se, nos, os or se. For example, Me acojo a la ley de amnistía and él se acoge al plan de ayudas del gobierno. If you leave the pronoun out, the verb changes meaning or stops making sense.

What is the difference between acogerse and refugiarse?

Acogerse means to take refuge, to avail oneself of, while refugiarse means to take shelter. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use acogerse when you mean to take refuge, to avail oneself of, as in Me acojo a la ley de amnistía, and use refugiarse for to take shelter. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I take refuge” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo me acogí al plan de ayudas del gobierno. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo me acogía bajo el techo durante la tormenta. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo me he acogido al plan de ayudas del gobierno.

How do I practise acogerse?

Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the acogerse examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.

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