Alumbrar Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb alumbrar means to light up, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Alumbrar means to light up, to give light to a place, and also, in older usage, to give birth. The lighting sense is the everyday one, for lamps, the sun and torches, and it is fully regular. Like every Spanish verb, alumbrar 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 alumbro la habitación con una lámpara, and in the preterite you say alumbré la calle con farolas nuevas. 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: alumbrar
  • English: to light up
  • Verb type: regular -ar verb
  • Ending: -ar
  • Gerund: alumbrando
  • Past participle: alumbrado
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + alumbrado)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for alumbrar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Alumbrar is fully regular: alumbro, alumbra. It is giving light to a place; iluminar is the close synonym, slightly more formal.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for alumbrar. 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 alumbro
tú alumbras
él/ella/Ud. alumbra
nosotros/as alumbramos
vosotros/as alumbráis
ellos/ellas/Uds. alumbran

Preterite

Person Form
yo alumbré
tú alumbraste
él/ella/Ud. alumbró
nosotros/as alumbramos
vosotros/as alumbrasteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. alumbraron

Imperfect

Person Form
yo alumbraba
tú alumbrabas
él/ella/Ud. alumbraba
nosotros/as alumbrábamos
vosotros/as alumbrabais
ellos/ellas/Uds. alumbraban

Future

Person Form
yo alumbraré
tú alumbrarás
él/ella/Ud. alumbrará
nosotros/as alumbraremos
vosotros/as alumbraréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. alumbrarán

Conditional

Person Form
yo alumbraría
tú alumbrarías
él/ella/Ud. alumbraría
nosotros/as alumbraríamos
vosotros/as alumbraríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. alumbrarían

Present perfect

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

Pluperfect

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

Future perfect

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

Conditional perfect

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

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo alumbre
tú alumbres
él/ella/Ud. alumbre
nosotros/as alumbremos
vosotros/as alumbréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. alumbren

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo alumbrara
tú alumbraras
él/ella/Ud. alumbrara
nosotros/as alumbráramos
vosotros/as alumbrarais
ellos/ellas/Uds. alumbraran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú alumbra
él/ella/Ud. alumbre
nosotros/as alumbremos
vosotros/as alumbrad
ellos/ellas/Uds. alumbren

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú alumbres
él/ella/Ud. alumbre
nosotros/as alumbremos
vosotros/as alumbréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. alumbren

Gerund and past participle

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

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 alumbrar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Alumbro la habitación con una lámpara. 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 alumbrar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, alumbré el camino con una linterna. 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 alumbrar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, alumbraba la calle con farolas nuevas. 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 alumbrar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, alumbraré el patio con el sol. 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 alumbrar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Alumbraría la habitación con una lámpara 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 alumbrar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he alumbrado el camino con una linterna. 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 alumbrar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había alumbrado la calle con farolas nuevas 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 alumbrar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré alumbrado el patio con el sol. 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 alumbrar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría alumbrado la habitación con una lámpara 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 alumbrar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él alumbre el camino con una linterna. 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 alumbrar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él alumbrara la calle con farolas nuevas, 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 alumbrar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Alumbra el patio con el sol! 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 alumbrar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No alumbres la habitación con una lámpara. 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 alumbrar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Alumbro la habitación con una lámpara. — I light up the room with a lamp.
  2. Alumbra el camino con una linterna. — He/she lights up the path with a torch.
  3. Ayer, alumbré la calle con farolas nuevas. — Yesterday, I lit up the street with new lamps.
  4. Antes, nosotros alumbrábamos el patio con el sol. — Before, we used to light up the yard with the sun.
  5. Mañana, tú alumbrarás la habitación con una lámpara. — Tomorrow, you will light up the room with a lamp.
  6. Yo alumbraría el camino con una linterna si tuviera más tiempo. — I would light up the path with a torch if I had more time.
  7. Él ha alumbrado la calle con farolas nuevas. — He has lit up the street with new lamps.
  8. Espero que él alumbre el patio con el sol. — I hope he lights up the yard with the sun.
  9. Yo ya había alumbrado la habitación con una lámpara antes de salir. — I had already lit up the room with a lamp before leaving.
  10. Ellos alumbraban el camino con una linterna cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to light up the path with a torch when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo alumbra la habitación con una lámpara. — Right: Yo alumbro la habitación con una lámpara. — The person matters: alumbra is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is alumbro. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
  2. Wrong: Ayer yo alumbro el camino con una linterna. — Right: Ayer yo alumbré el camino con una linterna. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: alumbro is happening now, while alumbré is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
  3. Wrong: Treating alumbrar and iluminar as identical in every context. — Right: Alumbrar means to light up, while iluminar means to illuminate. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: alumbrar fits sentences such as Alumbro la habitación con una lámpara, while iluminar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy alumbrado el camino con una linterna. — Right: Yo he alumbrado el camino con una linterna. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he alumbrado, has alumbrado, ha alumbrado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo alumbré la calle con farolas nuevas todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo alumbraba la calle con farolas nuevas todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (alumbraba), not the preterite. The preterite (alumbré) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

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

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la habitación con una lámpara. (present tense) A. alumbro B. alumbras C. alumbra D. alumbramos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ el camino con una linterna. (preterite) A. alumbré B. alumbraste C. alumbraron D. alumbró

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ la calle con farolas nuevas. (imperfect) A. alumbrabas B. alumbraban C. alumbrábamos D. alumbraba

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ el patio con el sol. (future) A. alumbraremos B. alumbrarás C. alumbraré D. alumbrará

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la habitación con una lámpara si pudiera. (conditional) A. alumbraría B. alumbrarías C. alumbrarían D. alumbro

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ el camino con una linterna. (present subjunctive) A. alumbres B. alumbremos C. alumbro D. alumbre

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ la calle con farolas nuevas, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. alumbráramos B. alumbro C. alumbrara D. alumbraras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ el patio con el sol. (present perfect) A. han alumbrado B. hemos alumbrado C. he alumbrado D. has alumbrado

  9. Complete the command: ¡___ la habitación con una lámpara! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. alumbra B. alumbre C. alumbremos D. alumbrad

  10. Which is the gerund of alumbrar, used with estar for the progressive? A. alumbrado B. alumbro C. alumbré D. alumbrando

Answer key

  1. alumbro — The first-person present of alumbrar is alumbro. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. alumbró — The third-person preterite of alumbrar is alumbró, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. alumbrábamos — The nosotros imperfect of alumbrar is alumbrábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. alumbrarás — The second-person future of alumbrar is alumbrarás.
  5. alumbraría — The first-person conditional of alumbrar is alumbraría, the form for what would happen.
  6. alumbre — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of alumbrar is alumbre.
  7. alumbrara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of alumbrar is alumbrara.
  8. hemos alumbrado — The nosotros present perfect of alumbrar is hemos alumbrado: hemos + alumbrado.
  9. alumbra — The affirmative tú imperative of alumbrar is alumbra.
  10. alumbrando — The gerund of alumbrar is alumbrando: estoy alumbrando. The participle alumbrado is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does alumbrar mean in English?

Alumbrar means to light up. It is used in everyday situations such as Alumbro la habitación con una lámpara. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is alumbrar regular or irregular?

Alumbrar 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 alumbro in the present and alumbré in the preterite.

What is the difference between alumbrar and iluminar?

Alumbrar means to light up, while iluminar means to illuminate. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use alumbrar when you mean to light up, as in Alumbro la habitación con una lámpara, and use iluminar for to illuminate. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I light up” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo alumbré el camino con una linterna. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo alumbraba la calle con farolas nuevas. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he alumbrado el camino con una linterna.

How do I practise alumbrar?

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

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