Acuñar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb acuñar means to mint, to coin, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Acuñar means to mint, to make coins in a mint, and also to coin a new word or phrase. It is used for money, language and history, and it is fully regular. Like every Spanish verb, acuñar 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 acuño monedas de oro en la ceca, and in the preterite you say acuñé el término en un artículo. 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: acuñar
- English: to mint, to coin
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: acuñando
- Past participle: acuñado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + acuñado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for acuñar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Acuñar is fully regular: acuño, acuña. It mints coins and coins new words — the same verb for both.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for acuñar. 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 | acuño |
| tú | acuñas |
| él/ella/Ud. | acuña |
| nosotros/as | acuñamos |
| vosotros/as | acuñáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acuñan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | acuñé |
| tú | acuñaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | acuñó |
| nosotros/as | acuñamos |
| vosotros/as | acuñasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acuñaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | acuñaba |
| tú | acuñabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | acuñaba |
| nosotros/as | acuñábamos |
| vosotros/as | acuñabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acuñaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | acuñaré |
| tú | acuñarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | acuñará |
| nosotros/as | acuñaremos |
| vosotros/as | acuñaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acuñarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | acuñaría |
| tú | acuñarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | acuñaría |
| nosotros/as | acuñaríamos |
| vosotros/as | acuñaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acuñarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he acuñado |
| tú | has acuñado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha acuñado |
| nosotros/as | hemos acuñado |
| vosotros/as | habéis acuñado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han acuñado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había acuñado |
| tú | habías acuñado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había acuñado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos acuñado |
| vosotros/as | habíais acuñado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían acuñado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré acuñado |
| tú | habrás acuñado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá acuñado |
| nosotros/as | habremos acuñado |
| vosotros/as | habréis acuñado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán acuñado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría acuñado |
| tú | habrías acuñado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría acuñado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos acuñado |
| vosotros/as | habríais acuñado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían acuñado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | acuñe |
| tú | acuñes |
| él/ella/Ud. | acuñe |
| nosotros/as | acuñemos |
| vosotros/as | acuñéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acuñen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | acuñara |
| tú | acuñaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | acuñara |
| nosotros/as | acuñáramos |
| vosotros/as | acuñarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acuñaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | acuña |
| él/ella/Ud. | acuñe |
| nosotros/as | acuñemos |
| vosotros/as | acuñad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acuñen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | acuñes |
| él/ella/Ud. | acuñe |
| nosotros/as | acuñemos |
| vosotros/as | acuñéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acuñen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | acuñando | with estar for the progressive: estoy acuñando |
| Past participle | acuñado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he acuñado |
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 acuñar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Acuño monedas de oro en la ceca. 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 acuñar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, acuñé una palabra nueva en el diccionario. 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 acuñar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, acuñaba el término en un artículo. 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 acuñar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, acuñaré medallas para los ganadores. 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 acuñar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Acuñaría monedas de oro en la ceca 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 acuñar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he acuñado una palabra nueva en el diccionario. 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 acuñar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había acuñado el término en un artículo 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 acuñar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré acuñado medallas para los ganadores. 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 acuñar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría acuñado monedas de oro en la ceca 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 acuñar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él acuñe una palabra nueva en el diccionario. 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 acuñar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él acuñara el término en un artículo, 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 acuñar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Acuña medallas para los ganadores! 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 acuñar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No acuñes monedas de oro en la ceca. 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 acuñar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Acuño monedas de oro en la ceca. — I mint gold coins at the mint.
- Acuña una palabra nueva en el diccionario. — He/she mints a new word in the dictionary.
- Ayer, acuñé el término en un artículo. — Yesterday, I minted the term in an article.
- Antes, nosotros acuñábamos medallas para los ganadores. — Before, we used to mint medals for the winners.
- Mañana, tú acuñarás monedas de oro en la ceca. — Tomorrow, you will mint gold coins at the mint.
- Yo acuñaría una palabra nueva en el diccionario si tuviera más tiempo. — I would mint a new word in the dictionary if I had more time.
- Él ha acuñado el término en un artículo. — He has minted the term in an article.
- Espero que él acuñe medallas para los ganadores. — I hope he mints medals for the winners.
- Yo ya había acuñado monedas de oro en la ceca antes de salir. — I had already minted gold coins at the mint before leaving.
- Ellos acuñaban una palabra nueva en el diccionario cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to mint a new word in the dictionary when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo acuña monedas de oro en la ceca. — Right: Yo acuño monedas de oro en la ceca. — The person matters: acuña is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is acuño. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Ayer yo acuño una palabra nueva en el diccionario. — Right: Ayer yo acuñé una palabra nueva en el diccionario. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: acuño is happening now, while acuñé is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
- Wrong: Treating acuñar and crear as identical in every context. — Right: Acuñar means to mint, to coin, while crear means to create. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: acuñar fits sentences such as Acuño monedas de oro en la ceca, while crear belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy acuñado una palabra nueva en el diccionario. — Right: Yo he acuñado una palabra nueva en el diccionario. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he acuñado, has acuñado, ha acuñado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo acuñé el término en un artículo todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo acuñaba el término en un artículo todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (acuñaba), not the preterite. The preterite (acuñé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on acuñar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ monedas de oro en la ceca. (present tense) A. acuño B. acuñas C. acuña D. acuñamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ una palabra nueva en el diccionario. (preterite) A. acuñé B. acuñaste C. acuñaron D. acuñó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ el término en un artículo. (imperfect) A. acuñabas B. acuñaban C. acuñábamos D. acuñaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ medallas para los ganadores. (future) A. acuñaremos B. acuñarás C. acuñaré D. acuñará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ monedas de oro en la ceca si pudiera. (conditional) A. acuñaría B. acuñarías C. acuñarían D. acuño
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ una palabra nueva en el diccionario. (present subjunctive) A. acuñes B. acuñemos C. acuño D. acuñe
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ el término en un artículo, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. acuñáramos B. acuño C. acuñara D. acuñaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ medallas para los ganadores. (present perfect) A. han acuñado B. hemos acuñado C. he acuñado D. has acuñado
Complete the command: ¡___ monedas de oro en la ceca! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. acuña B. acuñe C. acuñemos D. acuñad
Which is the gerund of acuñar, used with estar for the progressive? A. acuñado B. acuño C. acuñé D. acuñando
Answer key
- acuño — The first-person present of acuñar is acuño. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- acuñó — The third-person preterite of acuñar is acuñó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- acuñábamos — The nosotros imperfect of acuñar is acuñábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- acuñarás — The second-person future of acuñar is acuñarás.
- acuñaría — The first-person conditional of acuñar is acuñaría, the form for what would happen.
- acuñe — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of acuñar is acuñe.
- acuñara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of acuñar is acuñara.
- hemos acuñado — The nosotros present perfect of acuñar is hemos acuñado: hemos + acuñado.
- acuña — The affirmative tú imperative of acuñar is acuña.
- acuñando — The gerund of acuñar is acuñando: estoy acuñando. The participle acuñado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does acuñar mean in English?
Acuñar means to mint, to coin. It is used in everyday situations such as Acuño monedas de oro en la ceca. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is acuñar regular or irregular?
Acuñar 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 acuño in the present and acuñé in the preterite.
What is the difference between acuñar and crear?
Acuñar means to mint, to coin, while crear means to create. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use acuñar when you mean to mint, to coin, as in Acuño monedas de oro en la ceca, and use crear for to create. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I mint” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo acuñé una palabra nueva en el diccionario. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo acuñaba el término en un artículo. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he acuñado una palabra nueva en el diccionario.
How do I practise acuñar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the acuñar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Acuñar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for acuñar.
- Acuñar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for acuñar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Acosar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with acuñar.
- Acoplar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with acuñar.
- Acondicionar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with acuñar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.