Acostumbrar Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb acostumbrar means to be in the habit of, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Acostumbrar means to be in the habit of, and it describes a regular custom: you are in the habit of getting up early, of eating at two, of walking in the morning. It takes a before an infinitive, as in acostumbro a levantarme temprano, and it is common in routines and in descriptions of a way of life. Like every Spanish verb, acostumbrar 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 acostumbro a levantarme temprano, and in the preterite you say acostumbré a caminar por la mañana. 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: acostumbrar
  • English: to be in the habit of
  • Verb type: regular -ar verb
  • Ending: -ar
  • Gerund: acostumbrando
  • Past participle: acostumbrado
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + acostumbrado)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for acostumbrar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Acostumbrar takes a before an infinitive: acostumbro a leer, never acostumbro leer. To say you get used to something, use the reflexive acostumbrarse.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for acostumbrar. 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 Form
yo acostumbro
tú acostumbras
él/ella/Ud. acostumbra
nosotros/as acostumbramos
vosotros/as acostumbráis
ellos/ellas/Uds. acostumbran

Preterite

Person Form
yo acostumbré
tú acostumbraste
él/ella/Ud. acostumbró
nosotros/as acostumbramos
vosotros/as acostumbrasteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. acostumbraron

Imperfect

Person Form
yo acostumbraba
tú acostumbrabas
él/ella/Ud. acostumbraba
nosotros/as acostumbrábamos
vosotros/as acostumbrabais
ellos/ellas/Uds. acostumbraban

Future

Person Form
yo acostumbraré
tú acostumbrarás
él/ella/Ud. acostumbrará
nosotros/as acostumbraremos
vosotros/as acostumbraréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. acostumbrarán

Conditional

Person Form
yo acostumbraría
tú acostumbrarías
él/ella/Ud. acostumbraría
nosotros/as acostumbraríamos
vosotros/as acostumbraríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. acostumbrarían

Present perfect

Person Form
yo he acostumbrado
tú has acostumbrado
él/ella/Ud. ha acostumbrado
nosotros/as hemos acostumbrado
vosotros/as habéis acostumbrado
ellos/ellas/Uds. han acostumbrado

Pluperfect

Person Form
yo había acostumbrado
tú habías acostumbrado
él/ella/Ud. había acostumbrado
nosotros/as habíamos acostumbrado
vosotros/as habíais acostumbrado
ellos/ellas/Uds. habían acostumbrado

Future perfect

Person Form
yo habré acostumbrado
tú habrás acostumbrado
él/ella/Ud. habrá acostumbrado
nosotros/as habremos acostumbrado
vosotros/as habréis acostumbrado
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrán acostumbrado

Conditional perfect

Person Form
yo habría acostumbrado
tú habrías acostumbrado
él/ella/Ud. habría acostumbrado
nosotros/as habríamos acostumbrado
vosotros/as habríais acostumbrado
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrían acostumbrado

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo acostumbre
tú acostumbres
él/ella/Ud. acostumbre
nosotros/as acostumbremos
vosotros/as acostumbréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. acostumbren

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo acostumbrara
tú acostumbraras
él/ella/Ud. acostumbrara
nosotros/as acostumbráramos
vosotros/as acostumbrarais
ellos/ellas/Uds. acostumbraran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú acostumbra
él/ella/Ud. acostumbre
nosotros/as acostumbremos
vosotros/as acostumbrad
ellos/ellas/Uds. acostumbren

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú acostumbres
él/ella/Ud. acostumbre
nosotros/as acostumbremos
vosotros/as acostumbréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. acostumbren

Gerund and past participle

Form Spanish Use
Gerund acostumbrando with estar for the progressive: estoy acostumbrando
Past participle acostumbrado with haber for the perfect tenses: he acostumbrado

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 acostumbrar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Acostumbro a levantarme temprano. 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. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For acostumbrar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, acostumbré a comer a las dos. 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 acostumbrar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, acostumbraba a caminar por la mañana. 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 acostumbrar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, acostumbraré a leer antes de dormir. 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 acostumbrar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Acostumbraría a levantarme temprano 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 acostumbrar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he acostumbrado a comer a las dos. 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 acostumbrar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había acostumbrado a caminar por la mañana 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 acostumbrar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré acostumbrado a leer antes de dormir. 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 acostumbrar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría acostumbrado a levantarme temprano 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. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For acostumbrar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él acostumbre a comer a las dos. 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 acostumbrar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él acostumbrara a caminar por la mañana, 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. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For acostumbrar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡acostumbra a leer antes de dormir! 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. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For acostumbrar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No acostumbres a levantarme temprano. 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 acostumbrar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Acostumbro a levantarme temprano. — I am in the habit of getting up early.
  2. Acostumbra a comer a las dos. — He/she is in the habit of eating at two.
  3. Ayer, acostumbré a caminar por la mañana. — Yesterday, I was in the habit of walking in the morning.
  4. Antes, nosotros acostumbrábamos a leer antes de dormir. — Before, we used to be in the habit of reading before bed.
  5. Mañana, tú acostumbrarás a levantarme temprano. — Tomorrow, you will be in the habit of getting up early.
  6. Yo acostumbraría a comer a las dos si tuviera más tiempo. — I would be in the habit of eating at two if I had more time.
  7. Él ha acostumbrado a caminar por la mañana. — He has been in the habit of walking in the morning.
  8. Espero que él acostumbre a leer antes de dormir. — I hope he is in the habit of reading before bed.
  9. Yo ya había acostumbrado a levantarme temprano antes de salir. — I had already been in the habit of getting up early before leaving.
  10. Ellos acostumbraban a comer a las dos cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to be in the habit of eating at two when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo acostumbra a levantarme temprano. — Right: Yo acostumbro a levantarme temprano. — The person matters: acostumbra is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is acostumbro. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
  2. Wrong: Treating acostumbrar and soler as identical in every context. — Right: Acostumbrar means to be in the habit of, while soler means to usually do something. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: acostumbrar fits sentences such as Acostumbro a levantarme temprano, while soler belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  3. Wrong: Yo soy acostumbrado a comer a las dos. — Right: Yo he acostumbrado a comer a las dos. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he acostumbrado, has acostumbrado, ha acostumbrado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  4. Wrong: De niño, yo acostumbré a caminar por la mañana todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo acostumbraba a caminar por la mañana todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (acostumbraba), not the preterite. The preterite (acostumbré) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

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

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ a levantarme temprano. (present tense) A. acostumbro B. acostumbras C. acostumbra D. acostumbramos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ a comer a las dos. (preterite) A. acostumbré B. acostumbraste C. acostumbraron D. acostumbró

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ a caminar por la mañana. (imperfect) A. acostumbrabas B. acostumbraban C. acostumbrábamos D. acostumbraba

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ a leer antes de dormir. (future) A. acostumbraremos B. acostumbrarás C. acostumbraré D. acostumbrará

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ a levantarme temprano si pudiera. (conditional) A. acostumbraría B. acostumbrarías C. acostumbrarían D. acostumbro

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ a comer a las dos. (present subjunctive) A. acostumbres B. acostumbremos C. acostumbro D. acostumbre

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ a caminar por la mañana, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. acostumbráramos B. acostumbro C. acostumbrara D. acostumbraras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ a leer antes de dormir. (present perfect) A. han acostumbrado B. hemos acostumbrado C. he acostumbrado D. has acostumbrado

  9. Complete the command: ¡___ a levantarme temprano! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. acostumbra B. acostumbre C. acostumbremos D. acostumbrad

  10. Which is the gerund of acostumbrar, used with estar for the progressive? A. acostumbrado B. acostumbro C. acostumbré D. acostumbrando

Answer key

  1. acostumbro — The first-person present of acostumbrar is acostumbro. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. acostumbró — The third-person preterite of acostumbrar is acostumbró, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. acostumbrábamos — The nosotros imperfect of acostumbrar is acostumbrábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. acostumbrarás — The second-person future of acostumbrar is acostumbrarás.
  5. acostumbraría — The first-person conditional of acostumbrar is acostumbraría, the form for what would happen.
  6. acostumbre — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of acostumbrar is acostumbre.
  7. acostumbrara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of acostumbrar is acostumbrara.
  8. hemos acostumbrado — The nosotros present perfect of acostumbrar is hemos acostumbrado: hemos + acostumbrado.
  9. acostumbra — The affirmative tú imperative of acostumbrar is acostumbra.
  10. acostumbrando — The gerund of acostumbrar is acostumbrando: estoy acostumbrando. The participle acostumbrado is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does acostumbrar mean in English?

Acostumbrar means to be in the habit of. It is used in everyday situations such as Acostumbro a levantarme temprano. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is acostumbrar regular or irregular?

Acostumbrar is a fully regular -ar verb, so every tense follows the standard endings for its class. Once you know the regular pattern, you can produce every form on this page, including acostumbro in the present and acostumbré in the preterite.

What is the difference between acostumbrar and soler?

Acostumbrar means to be in the habit of, while soler means to usually do something. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use acostumbrar when you mean to be in the habit of, as in Acostumbro a levantarme temprano, and use soler for to usually do something. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I am in the habit of” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo acostumbré a comer a las dos. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo acostumbraba a caminar por la mañana. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he acostumbrado a comer a las dos.

How do I practise acostumbrar?

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

Related links