Apostar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb apostar means to bet, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Apostar means to bet, and it is used for betting money on a horse, a match or a lottery, and figuratively for betting on a person or an idea, as in apuesto por ti, I am betting on you. It is a stem-changing verb, o to ue, and a classic verb of games and risk. Like every Spanish verb, apostar 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 apuesto diez euros al caballo ganador, and in the preterite you say aposté a que llueve mañana. 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: apostar
- English: to bet
- Verb type: irregular verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: apostando
- Past participle: apostado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + apostado)
- Stem change: o → ue in the present, present subjunctive and imperative; nosotros and vosotros keep the original stem.
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for apostar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Stem change o to ue: yo apuesto, tú apuestas, but nosotros apostamos keeps the o.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for apostar. 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 | apuesto |
| tú | apuestas |
| él/ella/Ud. | apuesta |
| nosotros/as | apostamos |
| vosotros/as | apostáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | apuestan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | aposté |
| tú | apostaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | apostó |
| nosotros/as | apostamos |
| vosotros/as | apostasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | apostaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | apostaba |
| tú | apostabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | apostaba |
| nosotros/as | apostábamos |
| vosotros/as | apostabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | apostaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | apostaré |
| tú | apostarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | apostará |
| nosotros/as | apostaremos |
| vosotros/as | apostaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | apostarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | apostaría |
| tú | apostarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | apostaría |
| nosotros/as | apostaríamos |
| vosotros/as | apostaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | apostarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he apostado |
| tú | has apostado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha apostado |
| nosotros/as | hemos apostado |
| vosotros/as | habéis apostado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han apostado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había apostado |
| tú | habías apostado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había apostado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos apostado |
| vosotros/as | habíais apostado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían apostado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré apostado |
| tú | habrás apostado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá apostado |
| nosotros/as | habremos apostado |
| vosotros/as | habréis apostado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán apostado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría apostado |
| tú | habrías apostado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría apostado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos apostado |
| vosotros/as | habríais apostado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían apostado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | apueste |
| tú | apuestes |
| él/ella/Ud. | apueste |
| nosotros/as | apostemos |
| vosotros/as | apostéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | apuesten |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | apostara |
| tú | apostaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | apostara |
| nosotros/as | apostáramos |
| vosotros/as | apostarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | apostaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | apuesta |
| él/ella/Ud. | apueste |
| nosotros/as | apostemos |
| vosotros/as | apostad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | apuesten |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | apuestes |
| él/ella/Ud. | apueste |
| nosotros/as | apostemos |
| vosotros/as | apostéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | apuesten |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | apostando | with estar for the progressive: estoy apostando |
| Past participle | apostado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he apostado |
How to use each tense
Present indicative
Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. This tense is irregular for this verb: the stem changes o → ue in the singular and third-person plural forms, while nosotros and vosotros keep the original stem. For apostar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Apuesto diez euros al caballo ganador. 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 apostar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, aposté por mi equipo en la final. 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 apostar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, apostaba a que llueve mañana. 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 apostar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, apostaré todo mi dinero en la partida. 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 apostar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Apostaría diez euros al caballo ganador 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 apostar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he apostado por mi equipo en la final. 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 apostar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había apostado a que llueve mañana 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 apostar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré apostado todo mi dinero en la partida. 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 apostar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría apostado diez euros al caballo ganador 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: the stem changes o → ue in the singular and third-person plural forms, while nosotros and vosotros keep the original stem. For apostar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él apueste por mi equipo en la final. 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 apostar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él apostara a que llueve mañana, 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: the stem changes o → ue in the singular and third-person plural forms, while nosotros and vosotros keep the original stem. For apostar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡apuesta todo mi dinero en la partida! 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: the stem changes o → ue in the singular and third-person plural forms, while nosotros and vosotros keep the original stem. For apostar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No apuestes diez euros al caballo ganador. 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 apostar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Apuesto diez euros al caballo ganador. — I bet ten euros on the winning horse.
- Apuesta por mi equipo en la final. — He/she bets on my team in the final.
- Ayer, aposté a que llueve mañana. — Yesterday, I bet that it rains tomorrow.
- Antes, nosotros apostábamos todo mi dinero en la partida. — Before, we used to bet all my money on the game.
- Mañana, tú apostarás diez euros al caballo ganador. — Tomorrow, you will bet ten euros on the winning horse.
- Yo apostaría por mi equipo en la final si tuviera más tiempo. — I would bet on my team in the final if I had more time.
- Él ha apostado a que llueve mañana. — He has bet that it rains tomorrow.
- Espero que él apueste todo mi dinero en la partida. — I hope he bets all my money on the game.
- Yo ya había apostado diez euros al caballo ganador antes de salir. — I had already bet ten euros on the winning horse before leaving.
- Ellos apostaban por mi equipo en la final cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to bet on my team in the final when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo apuesta diez euros al caballo ganador. — Right: Yo apuesto diez euros al caballo ganador. — The person matters: apuesta is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is apuesto. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Yo aposto por mi equipo en la final. — Right: Yo apuesto por mi equipo en la final. — Apostar is a stem-changing verb (o → ue), so the stem changes in the present singular and third-person plural. The nosotros form keeps the original stem.
- Wrong: Treating apostar and jugarse as identical in every context. — Right: Apostar means to bet, while jugarse means to gamble something, to risk it. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: apostar fits sentences such as Apuesto diez euros al caballo ganador, while jugarse belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy apostado por mi equipo en la final. — Right: Yo he apostado por mi equipo en la final. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he apostado, has apostado, ha apostado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo aposté a que llueve mañana todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo apostaba a que llueve mañana todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (apostaba), not the preterite. The preterite (aposté) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on apostar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ diez euros al caballo ganador. (present tense) A. apuesto B. apuestas C. apuesta D. apostamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ por mi equipo en la final. (preterite) A. aposté B. apostaste C. apostaron D. apostó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ a que llueve mañana. (imperfect) A. apostabas B. apostaban C. apostábamos D. apostaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ todo mi dinero en la partida. (future) A. apostaremos B. apostarás C. apostaré D. apostará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ diez euros al caballo ganador si pudiera. (conditional) A. apostaría B. apostarías C. apostarían D. apuesto
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ por mi equipo en la final. (present subjunctive) A. apuestes B. apostemos C. apuesto D. apueste
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ a que llueve mañana, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. apostáramos B. apuesto C. apostara D. apostaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ todo mi dinero en la partida. (present perfect) A. han apostado B. hemos apostado C. he apostado D. has apostado
Complete the command: ¡___ diez euros al caballo ganador! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. apuesta B. apueste C. apostemos D. apostad
Which is the gerund of apostar, used with estar for the progressive? A. apostado B. apuesto C. aposté D. apostando
Answer key
- apuesto — The first-person present of apostar is apuesto. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- apostó — The third-person preterite of apostar is apostó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- apostábamos — The nosotros imperfect of apostar is apostábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- apostarás — The second-person future of apostar is apostarás.
- apostaría — The first-person conditional of apostar is apostaría, the form for what would happen.
- apueste — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of apostar is apueste.
- apostara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of apostar is apostara.
- hemos apostado — The nosotros present perfect of apostar is hemos apostado: hemos + apostado.
- apuesta — The affirmative tú imperative of apostar is apuesta.
- apostando — The gerund of apostar is apostando: estoy apostando. The participle apostado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does apostar mean in English?
Apostar means to bet. It is used in everyday situations such as Apuesto diez euros al caballo ganador. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is apostar regular or irregular?
Apostar is a stem-changing verb (o → ue), so it is not fully regular: the stem changes in the present, the present subjunctive and the imperative, while nosotros and vosotros keep the original stem. The preterite and the imperfect are regular. Check the tables above for the exact forms in each tense.
What is the difference between apostar and jugarse?
Apostar means to bet, while jugarse means to gamble something, to risk it. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use apostar when you mean to bet, as in Apuesto diez euros al caballo ganador, and use jugarse for to gamble something, to risk it. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I bet” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo aposté por mi equipo en la final. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo apostaba a que llueve mañana. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he apostado por mi equipo en la final.
How do I practise apostar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the apostar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Apostar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for apostar.
- Apostar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for apostar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Complete list of Spanish irregular verbs — where this verb's pattern is listed.
- Apreciar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with apostar.
- Apelar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with apostar.
- Apresurar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with apostar.
- Stem-Change Finder — find other verbs with the same stem change.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.