Amortiguar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb amortiguar means to cushion, to soften, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Amortiguar means to cushion or to soften, to reduce the force of a blow, a fall, a noise or bad news. It is used for safety, sound and figurative speech, and it is fully regular. Like every Spanish verb, amortiguar 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 amortiguo el golpe con un cojín, and in the preterite you say amortigüé el ruido con cortinas gruesas. 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: amortiguar
- English: to cushion, to soften
- Verb type: spelling-changing -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: amortiguando
- Past participle: amortiguado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + amortiguado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for amortiguar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Amortiguar is fully regular: amortiguo, amortigua. The gu keeps the hard g sound before u; it is about softening a blow or a sound.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for amortiguar. 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 | amortiguo |
| tú | amortiguas |
| él/ella/Ud. | amortigua |
| nosotros/as | amortiguamos |
| vosotros/as | amortiguáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | amortiguan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | amortigüé |
| tú | amortiguaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | amortiguó |
| nosotros/as | amortiguamos |
| vosotros/as | amortiguasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | amortiguaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | amortiguaba |
| tú | amortiguabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | amortiguaba |
| nosotros/as | amortiguábamos |
| vosotros/as | amortiguabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | amortiguaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | amortiguaré |
| tú | amortiguarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | amortiguará |
| nosotros/as | amortiguaremos |
| vosotros/as | amortiguaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | amortiguarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | amortiguaría |
| tú | amortiguarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | amortiguaría |
| nosotros/as | amortiguaríamos |
| vosotros/as | amortiguaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | amortiguarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he amortiguado |
| tú | has amortiguado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha amortiguado |
| nosotros/as | hemos amortiguado |
| vosotros/as | habéis amortiguado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han amortiguado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había amortiguado |
| tú | habías amortiguado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había amortiguado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos amortiguado |
| vosotros/as | habíais amortiguado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían amortiguado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré amortiguado |
| tú | habrás amortiguado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá amortiguado |
| nosotros/as | habremos amortiguado |
| vosotros/as | habréis amortiguado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán amortiguado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría amortiguado |
| tú | habrías amortiguado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría amortiguado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos amortiguado |
| vosotros/as | habríais amortiguado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían amortiguado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | amortigüe |
| tú | amortigües |
| él/ella/Ud. | amortigüe |
| nosotros/as | amortigüemos |
| vosotros/as | amortigüéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | amortigüen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | amortiguara |
| tú | amortiguaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | amortiguara |
| nosotros/as | amortiguáramos |
| vosotros/as | amortiguarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | amortiguaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | amortigua |
| él/ella/Ud. | amortigüe |
| nosotros/as | amortigüemos |
| vosotros/as | amortiguad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | amortigüen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | amortigües |
| él/ella/Ud. | amortigüe |
| nosotros/as | amortigüemos |
| vosotros/as | amortigüéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | amortigüen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | amortiguando | with estar for the progressive: estoy amortiguando |
| Past participle | amortiguado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he amortiguado |
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 amortiguar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Amortiguo el golpe con un cojín. 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 amortiguar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, amortigüé la caída con las manos. 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 amortiguar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, amortiguaba el ruido con cortinas gruesas. 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 amortiguar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, amortiguaré el impacto del accidente. 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 amortiguar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Amortiguaría el golpe con un cojín 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 amortiguar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he amortiguado la caída con las manos. 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 amortiguar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había amortiguado el ruido con cortinas gruesas 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 amortiguar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré amortiguado el impacto del accidente. 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 amortiguar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría amortiguado el golpe con un cojín 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 present subjunctive is spelling-changing (gu → gü before e in every person), so the forms follow the standard endings on the changed stem. For amortiguar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él amortigüe la caída con las manos. 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 amortiguar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él amortiguara el ruido con cortinas gruesas, 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 imperative is spelling-changing (gu → gü before e in the formal forms), so the forms follow the standard endings on the changed stem. For amortiguar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Amortigua el impacto del accidente! 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 imperative is spelling-changing (gu → gü before e in the formal forms), so the forms follow the standard endings on the changed stem. For amortiguar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No amortigües el golpe con un cojín. 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 amortiguar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Amortiguo el golpe con un cojín. — I cushion the blow with a cushion.
- Amortigua la caída con las manos. — He/she cushions the fall with my hands.
- Ayer, amortigüé el ruido con cortinas gruesas. — Yesterday, I cushioned the noise with thick curtains.
- Antes, nosotros amortiguábamos el impacto del accidente. — Before, we used to cushion the impact of the accident.
- Mañana, tú amortiguarás el golpe con un cojín. — Tomorrow, you will cushion the blow with a cushion.
- Yo amortiguaría la caída con las manos si tuviera más tiempo. — I would cushion the fall with my hands if I had more time.
- Él ha amortiguado el ruido con cortinas gruesas. — He has cushioned the noise with thick curtains.
- Espero que él amortigüe el impacto del accidente. — I hope he cushions the impact of the accident.
- Yo ya había amortiguado el golpe con un cojín antes de salir. — I had already cushioned the blow with a cushion before leaving.
- Ellos amortiguaban la caída con las manos cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to cushion the fall with my hands when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo amortigua el golpe con un cojín. — Right: Yo amortiguo el golpe con un cojín. — The person matters: amortigua is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is amortiguo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Ayer yo amortiguo la caída con las manos. — Right: Ayer yo amortigüé la caída con las manos. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: amortiguo is happening now, while amortigüé is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
- Wrong: Treating amortiguar and suavizar as identical in every context. — Right: Amortiguar means to cushion, to soften, while suavizar means to soften. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: amortiguar fits sentences such as Amortiguo el golpe con un cojín, while suavizar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy amortiguado la caída con las manos. — Right: Yo he amortiguado la caída con las manos. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he amortiguado, has amortiguado, ha amortiguado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo amortigüé el ruido con cortinas gruesas todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo amortiguaba el ruido con cortinas gruesas todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (amortiguaba), not the preterite. The preterite (amortigüé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on amortiguar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el golpe con un cojín. (present tense) A. amortiguo B. amortiguas C. amortigua D. amortiguamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ la caída con las manos. (preterite) A. amortigüé B. amortiguaste C. amortiguaron D. amortiguó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ el ruido con cortinas gruesas. (imperfect) A. amortiguabas B. amortiguaban C. amortiguábamos D. amortiguaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ el impacto del accidente. (future) A. amortiguaremos B. amortiguarás C. amortiguaré D. amortiguará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el golpe con un cojín si pudiera. (conditional) A. amortiguaría B. amortiguarías C. amortiguarían D. amortiguo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ la caída con las manos. (present subjunctive) A. amortigües B. amortigüemos C. amortiguo D. amortigüe
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ el ruido con cortinas gruesas, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. amortiguáramos B. amortiguo C. amortiguara D. amortiguaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ el impacto del accidente. (present perfect) A. han amortiguado B. hemos amortiguado C. he amortiguado D. has amortiguado
Complete the command: ¡___ el golpe con un cojín! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. amortigua B. amortigüe C. amortigüemos D. amortiguad
Which is the gerund of amortiguar, used with estar for the progressive? A. amortiguado B. amortiguo C. amortigüé D. amortiguando
Answer key
- amortiguo — The first-person present of amortiguar is amortiguo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- amortiguó — The third-person preterite of amortiguar is amortiguó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- amortiguábamos — The nosotros imperfect of amortiguar is amortiguábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- amortiguarás — The second-person future of amortiguar is amortiguarás.
- amortiguaría — The first-person conditional of amortiguar is amortiguaría, the form for what would happen.
- amortigüe — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of amortiguar is amortigüe.
- amortiguara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of amortiguar is amortiguara.
- hemos amortiguado — The nosotros present perfect of amortiguar is hemos amortiguado: hemos + amortiguado.
- amortigua — The affirmative tú imperative of amortiguar is amortigua.
- amortiguando — The gerund of amortiguar is amortiguando: estoy amortiguando. The participle amortiguado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does amortiguar mean in English?
Amortiguar means to cushion, to soften. It is used in everyday situations such as Amortiguo el golpe con un cojín. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is amortiguar regular or irregular?
Amortiguar is a spelling-changing -ar verb: the endings are regular, but the stem-final u takes a diaeresis (ü) before e — amortigüé in the preterite and amortigüe in the present subjunctive. Once you know that pattern, you can produce every form on this page, including amortiguo in the present and amortigüé in the preterite.
What is the difference between amortiguar and suavizar?
Amortiguar means to cushion, to soften, while suavizar means to soften. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use amortiguar when you mean to cushion, to soften, as in Amortiguo el golpe con un cojín, and use suavizar for to soften. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I cushion” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo amortigüé la caída con las manos. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo amortiguaba el ruido con cortinas gruesas. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he amortiguado la caída con las manos.
How do I practise amortiguar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the amortiguar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Amortiguar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for amortiguar.
- Amortiguar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for amortiguar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Amansar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with amortiguar.
- Anticipar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with amortiguar.
- Amamantar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with amortiguar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.