Aparecer Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb aparecer means to appear, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Aparecer means to appear, and it is used for someone appearing in a doorway, a message appearing on a screen and a star appearing in the sky. It is the opposite of desaparecer, and it is a -cer spelling-change verb: yo aparezco. Like every Spanish verb, aparecer 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 aparezco de repente en la puerta, and in the preterite you say aparecí un mensaje en la pantalla. 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: aparecer
- English: to appear
- Verb type: irregular verb
- Ending: -er
- Gerund: apareciendo
- Past participle: aparecido
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + aparecido)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for aparecer, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Spelling change: c becomes zc before o and a, so yo aparezco and the subjunctive aparezca. Never write apareco.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for aparecer. 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 | aparezco |
| tú | apareces |
| él/ella/Ud. | aparece |
| nosotros/as | aparecemos |
| vosotros/as | aparecéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aparecen |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | aparecí |
| tú | apareciste |
| él/ella/Ud. | apareció |
| nosotros/as | aparecimos |
| vosotros/as | aparecisteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aparecieron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | aparecía |
| tú | aparecías |
| él/ella/Ud. | aparecía |
| nosotros/as | aparecíamos |
| vosotros/as | aparecíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aparecían |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | apareceré |
| tú | aparecerás |
| él/ella/Ud. | aparecerá |
| nosotros/as | apareceremos |
| vosotros/as | apareceréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aparecerán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | aparecería |
| tú | aparecerías |
| él/ella/Ud. | aparecería |
| nosotros/as | apareceríamos |
| vosotros/as | apareceríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aparecerían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he aparecido |
| tú | has aparecido |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha aparecido |
| nosotros/as | hemos aparecido |
| vosotros/as | habéis aparecido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han aparecido |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había aparecido |
| tú | habías aparecido |
| él/ella/Ud. | había aparecido |
| nosotros/as | habíamos aparecido |
| vosotros/as | habíais aparecido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían aparecido |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré aparecido |
| tú | habrás aparecido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá aparecido |
| nosotros/as | habremos aparecido |
| vosotros/as | habréis aparecido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán aparecido |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría aparecido |
| tú | habrías aparecido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría aparecido |
| nosotros/as | habríamos aparecido |
| vosotros/as | habríais aparecido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían aparecido |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | aparezca |
| tú | aparezcas |
| él/ella/Ud. | aparezca |
| nosotros/as | aparezcamos |
| vosotros/as | aparecáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aparezcan |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | apareciera |
| tú | aparecieras |
| él/ella/Ud. | apareciera |
| nosotros/as | apareciéramos |
| vosotros/as | aparecierais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aparecieran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | aparece |
| él/ella/Ud. | aparezca |
| nosotros/as | aparezcamos |
| vosotros/as | apareced |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aparezcan |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | aparezcas |
| él/ella/Ud. | aparezca |
| nosotros/as | aparezcamos |
| vosotros/as | aparecáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aparezcan |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | apareciendo | with estar for the progressive: estoy apareciendo |
| Past participle | aparecido | with haber for the perfect tenses: he aparecido |
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 aparecer, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Aparezco de repente en la puerta. 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 aparecer, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, aparecí en la foto del grupo. 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 aparecer, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, aparecía un mensaje en la pantalla. 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 aparecer, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, apareceré en el cielo una estrella. 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 aparecer, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Aparecería de repente en la puerta 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 aparecer, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he aparecido en la foto del grupo. 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 aparecer, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había aparecido un mensaje en la pantalla 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 aparecer, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré aparecido en el cielo una estrella. 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 aparecer, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría aparecido de repente en la puerta 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 aparecer, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él aparezca en la foto del grupo. 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 aparecer, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él apareciera un mensaje en la pantalla, 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 aparecer, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Aparece en el cielo una estrella! 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 aparecer, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No aparezcas de repente en la puerta. 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 aparecer, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Aparezco de repente en la puerta. — I appear suddenly in the doorway.
- Aparece en la foto del grupo. — He/she appears in the group photo.
- Ayer, aparecí un mensaje en la pantalla. — Yesterday, I appeared a message on the screen.
- Antes, nosotros aparecíamos en el cielo una estrella. — Before, we used to appear a star in the sky.
- Mañana, tú aparecerás de repente en la puerta. — Tomorrow, you will appear suddenly in the doorway.
- Yo aparecería en la foto del grupo si tuviera más tiempo. — I would appear in the group photo if I had more time.
- Él ha aparecido un mensaje en la pantalla. — He has appeared a message on the screen.
- Espero que él aparezca en el cielo una estrella. — I hope he appears a star in the sky.
- Yo ya había aparecido de repente en la puerta antes de salir. — I had already appeared suddenly in the doorway before leaving.
- Ellos aparecían en la foto del grupo cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to appear in the group photo when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo aparece de repente en la puerta. — Right: Yo aparezco de repente en la puerta. — The person matters: aparece is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is aparezco. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Yo apareco en la foto del grupo. — Right: Yo aparezco en la foto del grupo. — In the present, the correct first-person form is aparezco, not apareco. aparecer 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.
- Wrong: Treating aparecer and desaparecer as identical in every context. — Right: Aparecer means to appear, while desaparecer means to disappear, its opposite. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: aparecer fits sentences such as Aparezco de repente en la puerta, while desaparecer belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy aparecido en la foto del grupo. — Right: Yo he aparecido en la foto del grupo. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he aparecido, has aparecido, ha aparecido. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo aparecí un mensaje en la pantalla todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo aparecía un mensaje en la pantalla todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (aparecía), not the preterite. The preterite (aparecí) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on aparecer. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ de repente en la puerta. (present tense) A. aparezco B. apareces C. aparece D. aparecemos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ en la foto del grupo. (preterite) A. aparecí B. apareciste C. aparecieron D. apareció
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ un mensaje en la pantalla. (imperfect) A. aparecías B. aparecían C. aparecíamos D. aparecía
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ en el cielo una estrella. (future) A. apareceremos B. aparecerás C. apareceré D. aparecerá
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ de repente en la puerta si pudiera. (conditional) A. aparecería B. aparecerías C. aparecerían D. aparezco
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ en la foto del grupo. (present subjunctive) A. aparezcas B. aparezcamos C. aparezco D. aparezca
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ un mensaje en la pantalla, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. apareciéramos B. aparezco C. apareciera D. aparecieras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ en el cielo una estrella. (present perfect) A. han aparecido B. hemos aparecido C. he aparecido D. has aparecido
Complete the command: ¡___ de repente en la puerta! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. aparece B. aparezca C. aparezcamos D. apareced
Which is the gerund of aparecer, used with estar for the progressive? A. aparecido B. aparezco C. aparecí D. apareciendo
Answer key
- aparezco — The first-person present of aparecer is aparezco. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- apareció — The third-person preterite of aparecer is apareció, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- aparecíamos — The nosotros imperfect of aparecer is aparecíamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- aparecerás — The second-person future of aparecer is aparecerás.
- aparecería — The first-person conditional of aparecer is aparecería, the form for what would happen.
- aparezca — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of aparecer is aparezca.
- apareciera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of aparecer is apareciera.
- hemos aparecido — The nosotros present perfect of aparecer is hemos aparecido: hemos + aparecido.
- aparece — The affirmative tú imperative of aparecer is aparece.
- apareciendo — The gerund of aparecer is apareciendo: estoy apareciendo. The participle aparecido is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does aparecer mean in English?
Aparecer means to appear. It is used in everyday situations such as Aparezco de repente en la puerta. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is aparecer regular or irregular?
Aparecer 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 aparezco in the present and aparecí in the preterite.
What is the difference between aparecer and desaparecer?
Aparecer means to appear, while desaparecer means to disappear, its opposite. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use aparecer when you mean to appear, as in Aparezco de repente en la puerta, and use desaparecer for to disappear, its opposite. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I appear” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo aparecí en la foto del grupo. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo aparecía un mensaje en la pantalla. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he aparecido en la foto del grupo.
How do I practise aparecer?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the aparecer examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Aparecer in the present tense — the full present-tense table for aparecer.
- Aparecer examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for aparecer.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Desaparecer conjugation — another -er verb to compare with aparecer.
- Merecer conjugation — another -er verb to compare with aparecer.
- Establecer conjugation — another -er verb to compare with aparecer.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.