Amanecer Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb amanecer means to dawn, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Amanecer means to dawn, and it describes the day breaking, usually in the third person: amanece a las seis, amaneció con niebla. It is a -cer spelling-change verb, and it is the opposite of anochecer, to get dark. Like every Spanish verb, amanecer 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 amanezco a las seis de la mañana, and in the preterite you say amanecí temprano en invierno. 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: amanecer
  • English: to dawn
  • Verb type: irregular verb
  • Ending: -er
  • Gerund: amaneciendo
  • Past participle: amanecido
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + amanecido)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for amanecer, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Amanecer is mainly impersonal: amanece, amaneció. The other persons exist in the tables, but in real speech it is the third person you will hear.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for amanecer. 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 amanezco
tú amaneces
él/ella/Ud. amanece
nosotros/as amanecemos
vosotros/as amanecéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. amanecen

Preterite

Person Form
yo amanecí
tú amaneciste
él/ella/Ud. amaneció
nosotros/as amanecimos
vosotros/as amanecisteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. amanecieron

Imperfect

Person Form
yo amanecía
tú amanecías
él/ella/Ud. amanecía
nosotros/as amanecíamos
vosotros/as amanecíais
ellos/ellas/Uds. amanecían

Future

Person Form
yo amaneceré
tú amanecerás
él/ella/Ud. amanecerá
nosotros/as amaneceremos
vosotros/as amaneceréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. amanecerán

Conditional

Person Form
yo amanecería
tú amanecerías
él/ella/Ud. amanecería
nosotros/as amaneceríamos
vosotros/as amaneceríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. amanecerían

Present perfect

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

Pluperfect

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

Future perfect

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

Conditional perfect

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

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo amanezca
tú amanezcas
él/ella/Ud. amanezca
nosotros/as amanezcamos
vosotros/as amanecáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. amanezcan

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo amaneciera
tú amanecieras
él/ella/Ud. amaneciera
nosotros/as amaneciéramos
vosotros/as amanecierais
ellos/ellas/Uds. amanecieran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú amanece
él/ella/Ud. amanezca
nosotros/as amanezcamos
vosotros/as amaneced
ellos/ellas/Uds. amanezcan

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú amanezcas
él/ella/Ud. amanezca
nosotros/as amanezcamos
vosotros/as amanecáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. amanezcan

Gerund and past participle

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

How to use each tense

Present indicative

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. Note the spelling change here: c becomes zc before o and a, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For amanecer, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Amanezco a las seis de la mañana. 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 amanecer, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, amanecí sobre el mar en verano. 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 amanecer, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, amanecía temprano en invierno. 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 amanecer, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, amaneceré con niebla en el valle. 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 amanecer, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Amanecería a las seis de la mañana 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 amanecer, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he amanecido sobre el mar en verano. 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 amanecer, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había amanecido temprano en invierno 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 amanecer, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré amanecido con niebla en el valle. 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 amanecer, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría amanecido a las seis de la mañana 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 here: c becomes zc before o and a, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For amanecer, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él amanezca sobre el mar en verano. 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 amanecer, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él amaneciera temprano en invierno, 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 here: c becomes zc before o and a, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For amanecer, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Amanece con niebla en el valle! 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 here: c becomes zc before o and a, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For amanecer, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No amanezcas a las seis de la mañana. 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 amanecer, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Amanezco a las seis de la mañana. — I dawn at six in the morning.
  2. Amanece sobre el mar en verano. — He/she dawns over the sea in summer.
  3. Ayer, amanecí temprano en invierno. — Yesterday, I dawned early in winter.
  4. Antes, nosotros amanecíamos con niebla en el valle. — Before, we used to dawn with fog in the valley.
  5. Mañana, tú amanecerás a las seis de la mañana. — Tomorrow, you will dawn at six in the morning.
  6. Yo amanecería sobre el mar en verano si tuviera más tiempo. — I would dawn over the sea in summer if I had more time.
  7. Él ha amanecido temprano en invierno. — He has dawned early in winter.
  8. Espero que él amanezca con niebla en el valle. — I hope he dawns with fog in the valley.
  9. Yo ya había amanecido a las seis de la mañana antes de salir. — I had already dawned at six in the morning before leaving.
  10. Ellos amanecían sobre el mar en verano cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to dawn over the sea in summer when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo amanece a las seis de la mañana. — Right: Yo amanezco a las seis de la mañana. — The person matters: amanece is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is amanezco. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
  2. Wrong: Yo amaneco sobre el mar en verano. — Right: Yo amanezco sobre el mar en verano. — In the present, the correct first-person form is amanezco, not amaneco. amanecer is a spelling-change verb: c becomes zc before o and a, so the written form changes to keep the same sound. The regular-looking form is wrong.
  3. Wrong: Treating amanecer and anochecer as identical in every context. — Right: Amanecer means to dawn, while anochecer means to get dark, its opposite. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: amanecer fits sentences such as Amanezco a las seis de la mañana, while anochecer belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy amanecido sobre el mar en verano. — Right: Yo he amanecido sobre el mar en verano. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he amanecido, has amanecido, ha amanecido. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo amanecí temprano en invierno todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo amanecía temprano en invierno todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (amanecía), not the preterite. The preterite (amanecí) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

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

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ a las seis de la mañana. (present tense) A. amanezco B. amaneces C. amanece D. amanecemos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ sobre el mar en verano. (preterite) A. amanecí B. amaneciste C. amanecieron D. amaneció

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ temprano en invierno. (imperfect) A. amanecías B. amanecían C. amanecíamos D. amanecía

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ con niebla en el valle. (future) A. amaneceremos B. amanecerás C. amaneceré D. amanecerá

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ a las seis de la mañana si pudiera. (conditional) A. amanecería B. amanecerías C. amanecerían D. amanezco

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ sobre el mar en verano. (present subjunctive) A. amanezcas B. amanezcamos C. amanezco D. amanezca

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ temprano en invierno, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. amaneciéramos B. amanezco C. amaneciera D. amanecieras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ con niebla en el valle. (present perfect) A. han amanecido B. hemos amanecido C. he amanecido D. has amanecido

  9. Complete the command: ¡___ a las seis de la mañana! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. amanece B. amanezca C. amanezcamos D. amaneced

  10. Which is the gerund of amanecer, used with estar for the progressive? A. amanecido B. amanezco C. amanecí D. amaneciendo

Answer key

  1. amanezco — The first-person present of amanecer is amanezco. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. amaneció — The third-person preterite of amanecer is amaneció, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. amanecíamos — The nosotros imperfect of amanecer is amanecíamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. amanecerás — The second-person future of amanecer is amanecerás.
  5. amanecería — The first-person conditional of amanecer is amanecería, the form for what would happen.
  6. amanezca — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of amanecer is amanezca.
  7. amaneciera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of amanecer is amaneciera.
  8. hemos amanecido — The nosotros present perfect of amanecer is hemos amanecido: hemos + amanecido.
  9. amanece — The affirmative tú imperative of amanecer is amanece.
  10. amaneciendo — The gerund of amanecer is amaneciendo: estoy amaneciendo. The participle amanecido is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does amanecer mean in English?

Amanecer means to dawn. It is used in everyday situations such as Amanezco a las seis de la mañana. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is amanecer regular or irregular?

Amanecer is a fully regular -er 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 amanezco in the present and amanecí in the preterite.

What is the difference between amanecer and anochecer?

Amanecer means to dawn, while anochecer means to get dark, its opposite. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use amanecer when you mean to dawn, as in Amanezco a las seis de la mañana, and use anochecer for to get dark, its opposite. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I dawn” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo amanecí sobre el mar en verano. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo amanecía temprano en invierno. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he amanecido sobre el mar en verano.

How do I practise amanecer?

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

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