Alquilar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb alquilar means to rent, to hire, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Alquilar means to rent or to hire, and it covers renting a flat, hiring a car, renting a bike and letting a house to a tenant. It works in both directions — you rent a flat from someone, and you rent a flat out to someone — and the context shows which direction is meant. Like every Spanish verb, alquilar 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 alquilo un piso en el centro, and in the preterite you say alquilé una bicicleta en la playa. 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: alquilar
- English: to rent, to hire
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: alquilando
- Past participle: alquilado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + alquilado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for alquilar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Alquilar is fully regular: alquilé, alquilaba, alquilaré. To say you rent something out, use alquilar with a: alquilo mi casa a unos estudiantes.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for alquilar. 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 | alquilo |
| tú | alquilas |
| él/ella/Ud. | alquila |
| nosotros/as | alquilamos |
| vosotros/as | alquiláis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alquilan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alquilé |
| tú | alquilaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | alquiló |
| nosotros/as | alquilamos |
| vosotros/as | alquilasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alquilaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alquilaba |
| tú | alquilabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | alquilaba |
| nosotros/as | alquilábamos |
| vosotros/as | alquilabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alquilaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alquilaré |
| tú | alquilarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | alquilará |
| nosotros/as | alquilaremos |
| vosotros/as | alquilaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alquilarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alquilaría |
| tú | alquilarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | alquilaría |
| nosotros/as | alquilaríamos |
| vosotros/as | alquilaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alquilarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he alquilado |
| tú | has alquilado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha alquilado |
| nosotros/as | hemos alquilado |
| vosotros/as | habéis alquilado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han alquilado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había alquilado |
| tú | habías alquilado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había alquilado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos alquilado |
| vosotros/as | habíais alquilado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían alquilado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré alquilado |
| tú | habrás alquilado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá alquilado |
| nosotros/as | habremos alquilado |
| vosotros/as | habréis alquilado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán alquilado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría alquilado |
| tú | habrías alquilado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría alquilado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos alquilado |
| vosotros/as | habríais alquilado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían alquilado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alquile |
| tú | alquiles |
| él/ella/Ud. | alquile |
| nosotros/as | alquilemos |
| vosotros/as | alquiléis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alquilen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alquilara |
| tú | alquilaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | alquilara |
| nosotros/as | alquiláramos |
| vosotros/as | alquilarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alquilaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | alquila |
| él/ella/Ud. | alquile |
| nosotros/as | alquilemos |
| vosotros/as | alquilad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alquilen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | alquiles |
| él/ella/Ud. | alquile |
| nosotros/as | alquilemos |
| vosotros/as | alquiléis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alquilen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | alquilando | with estar for the progressive: estoy alquilando |
| Past participle | alquilado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he alquilado |
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 alquilar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Alquilo un piso en el centro. 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 alquilar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, alquilé un coche para el fin de semana. 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 alquilar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, alquilaba una bicicleta en la playa. 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 alquilar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, alquilaré mi casa a unos estudiantes. 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 alquilar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Alquilaría un piso en el centro 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 alquilar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he alquilado un coche para el fin de semana. 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 alquilar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había alquilado una bicicleta en la playa 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 alquilar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré alquilado mi casa a unos estudiantes. 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 alquilar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría alquilado un piso en el centro 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 alquilar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él alquile un coche para el fin de semana. 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 alquilar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él alquilara una bicicleta en la playa, 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 alquilar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡alquila mi casa a unos estudiantes! 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 alquilar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No alquiles un piso en el centro. 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 alquilar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Alquilo un piso en el centro. — I rent a flat in the centre.
- Alquila un coche para el fin de semana. — He/she rents a car for the weekend.
- Ayer, alquilé una bicicleta en la playa. — Yesterday, I rented a bicycle on the beach.
- Antes, nosotros alquilábamos mi casa a unos estudiantes. — Before, we used to rent my house to some students.
- Mañana, tú alquilarás un piso en el centro. — Tomorrow, you will rent a flat in the centre.
- Yo alquilaría un coche para el fin de semana si tuviera más tiempo. — I would rent a car for the weekend if I had more time.
- Él ha alquilado una bicicleta en la playa. — He has rented a bicycle on the beach.
- Espero que él alquile mi casa a unos estudiantes. — I hope he rents my house to some students.
- Yo ya había alquilado un piso en el centro antes de salir. — I had already rented a flat in the centre before leaving.
- Ellos alquilaban un coche para el fin de semana cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to rent a car for the weekend when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo alquila un piso en el centro. — Right: Yo alquilo un piso en el centro. — The person matters: alquila is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is alquilo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Treating alquilar and arrendar as identical in every context. — Right: Alquilar means to rent, to hire, while arrendar means to rent out a property, the formal synonym. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: alquilar fits sentences such as Alquilo un piso en el centro, while arrendar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy alquilado un coche para el fin de semana. — Right: Yo he alquilado un coche para el fin de semana. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he alquilado, has alquilado, ha alquilado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo alquilé una bicicleta en la playa todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo alquilaba una bicicleta en la playa todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (alquilaba), not the preterite. The preterite (alquilé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on alquilar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ un piso en el centro. (present tense) A. alquilo B. alquilas C. alquila D. alquilamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ un coche para el fin de semana. (preterite) A. alquilé B. alquilaste C. alquilaron D. alquiló
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ una bicicleta en la playa. (imperfect) A. alquilabas B. alquilaban C. alquilábamos D. alquilaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ mi casa a unos estudiantes. (future) A. alquilaremos B. alquilarás C. alquilaré D. alquilará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ un piso en el centro si pudiera. (conditional) A. alquilaría B. alquilarías C. alquilarían D. alquilo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ un coche para el fin de semana. (present subjunctive) A. alquiles B. alquilemos C. alquilo D. alquile
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ una bicicleta en la playa, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. alquiláramos B. alquilo C. alquilara D. alquilaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ mi casa a unos estudiantes. (present perfect) A. han alquilado B. hemos alquilado C. he alquilado D. has alquilado
Complete the command: ¡___ un piso en el centro! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. alquila B. alquile C. alquilemos D. alquilad
Which is the gerund of alquilar, used with estar for the progressive? A. alquilado B. alquilo C. alquilé D. alquilando
Answer key
- alquilo — The first-person present of alquilar is alquilo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- alquiló — The third-person preterite of alquilar is alquiló, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- alquilábamos — The nosotros imperfect of alquilar is alquilábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- alquilarás — The second-person future of alquilar is alquilarás.
- alquilaría — The first-person conditional of alquilar is alquilaría, the form for what would happen.
- alquile — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of alquilar is alquile.
- alquilara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of alquilar is alquilara.
- hemos alquilado — The nosotros present perfect of alquilar is hemos alquilado: hemos + alquilado.
- alquila — The affirmative tú imperative of alquilar is alquila.
- alquilando — The gerund of alquilar is alquilando: estoy alquilando. The participle alquilado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does alquilar mean in English?
Alquilar means to rent, to hire. It is used in everyday situations such as Alquilo un piso en el centro. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is alquilar regular or irregular?
Alquilar 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 alquilo in the present and alquilé in the preterite.
What is the difference between alquilar and arrendar?
Alquilar means to rent, to hire, while arrendar means to rent out a property, the formal synonym. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use alquilar when you mean to rent, to hire, as in Alquilo un piso en el centro, and use arrendar for to rent out a property, the formal synonym. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I rent” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo alquilé un coche para el fin de semana. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo alquilaba una bicicleta en la playa. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he alquilado un coche para el fin de semana.
How do I practise alquilar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the alquilar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Alquilar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for alquilar.
- Alquilar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for alquilar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Almacenar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with alquilar.
- Alternar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with alquilar.
- Aliviar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with alquilar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.