Bordar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb bordar means to embroider, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Bordar means to embroider, and it is used for embroidering a name on a shirt, a pattern on a tablecloth and decorative stitching in general. It is a fully regular -ar verb, and it is the most decorative of the craft verbs. Like every Spanish verb, bordar 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 bordo un nombre en la camisa, and in the preterite you say bordé con hilo de colores. 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: bordar
- English: to embroider
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: bordando
- Past participle: bordado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + bordado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for bordar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Bordar is fully regular: bordé, bordaba, bordaré. It is embroidery, not plain sewing — the stitching is the decoration.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for bordar. 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 | bordo |
| tú | bordas |
| él/ella/Ud. | borda |
| nosotros/as | bordamos |
| vosotros/as | bordáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | bordan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | bordé |
| tú | bordaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | bordó |
| nosotros/as | bordamos |
| vosotros/as | bordasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | bordaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | bordaba |
| tú | bordabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | bordaba |
| nosotros/as | bordábamos |
| vosotros/as | bordabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | bordaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | bordaré |
| tú | bordarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | bordará |
| nosotros/as | bordaremos |
| vosotros/as | bordaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | bordarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | bordaría |
| tú | bordarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | bordaría |
| nosotros/as | bordaríamos |
| vosotros/as | bordaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | bordarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he bordado |
| tú | has bordado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha bordado |
| nosotros/as | hemos bordado |
| vosotros/as | habéis bordado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han bordado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había bordado |
| tú | habías bordado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había bordado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos bordado |
| vosotros/as | habíais bordado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían bordado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré bordado |
| tú | habrás bordado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá bordado |
| nosotros/as | habremos bordado |
| vosotros/as | habréis bordado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán bordado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría bordado |
| tú | habrías bordado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría bordado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos bordado |
| vosotros/as | habríais bordado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían bordado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | borde |
| tú | bordes |
| él/ella/Ud. | borde |
| nosotros/as | bordemos |
| vosotros/as | bordéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | borden |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | bordara |
| tú | bordaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | bordara |
| nosotros/as | bordáramos |
| vosotros/as | bordarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | bordaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | borda |
| él/ella/Ud. | borde |
| nosotros/as | bordemos |
| vosotros/as | bordad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | borden |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | bordes |
| él/ella/Ud. | borde |
| nosotros/as | bordemos |
| vosotros/as | bordéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | borden |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | bordando | with estar for the progressive: estoy bordando |
| Past participle | bordado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he bordado |
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 bordar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Bordo un nombre en la camisa. 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 bordar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, bordé flores en el mantel. 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 bordar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, bordaba con hilo de colores. 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 bordar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, bordaré a mano por las tardes. 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 bordar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Bordaría un nombre en la camisa 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 bordar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he bordado flores en el mantel. 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 bordar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había bordado con hilo de colores 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 bordar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré bordado a mano por las tardes. 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 bordar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría bordado un nombre en la camisa 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 bordar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él borde flores en el mantel. 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 bordar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él bordara con hilo de colores, 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 bordar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Borda a mano por las tardes! 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 bordar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No bordes un nombre en la camisa. 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 bordar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Bordo un nombre en la camisa. — I embroider a name on the shirt.
- Borda flores en el mantel. — He/she embroiders flowers on the tablecloth.
- Ayer, bordé con hilo de colores. — Yesterday, I embroidered with coloured thread.
- Antes, nosotros bordábamos a mano por las tardes. — Before, we used to embroider by hand in the afternoons.
- Mañana, tú bordarás un nombre en la camisa. — Tomorrow, you will embroider a name on the shirt.
- Yo bordaría flores en el mantel si tuviera más tiempo. — I would embroider flowers on the tablecloth if I had more time.
- Él ha bordado con hilo de colores. — He has embroidered with coloured thread.
- Espero que él borde a mano por las tardes. — I hope he embroiders by hand in the afternoons.
- Yo ya había bordado un nombre en la camisa antes de salir. — I had already embroidered a name on the shirt before leaving.
- Ellos bordaban flores en el mantel cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to embroider flowers on the tablecloth when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo borda un nombre en la camisa. — Right: Yo bordo un nombre en la camisa. — The person matters: borda is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is bordo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Vosotros bordais flores en el mantel. — Right: Vosotros bordáis flores en el mantel. — The vosotros present form carries a written accent: bordáis, not bordais. The accent marks the stressed vowel.
- Wrong: Treating bordar and coser as identical in every context. — Right: Bordar means to embroider, while coser means to sew, the general craft verb. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: bordar fits sentences such as Bordo un nombre en la camisa, while coser belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy bordado flores en el mantel. — Right: Yo he bordado flores en el mantel. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he bordado, has bordado, ha bordado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo bordé con hilo de colores todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo bordaba con hilo de colores todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (bordaba), not the preterite. The preterite (bordé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on bordar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ un nombre en la camisa. (present tense) A. bordo B. bordas C. borda D. bordamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ flores en el mantel. (preterite) A. bordé B. bordaste C. bordaron D. bordó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ con hilo de colores. (imperfect) A. bordabas B. bordaban C. bordábamos D. bordaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ a mano por las tardes. (future) A. bordaremos B. bordarás C. bordaré D. bordará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ un nombre en la camisa si pudiera. (conditional) A. bordaría B. bordarías C. bordarían D. bordo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ flores en el mantel. (present subjunctive) A. bordes B. bordemos C. bordo D. borde
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ con hilo de colores, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. bordáramos B. bordo C. bordara D. bordaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ a mano por las tardes. (present perfect) A. han bordado B. hemos bordado C. he bordado D. has bordado
Complete the command: ¡___ un nombre en la camisa! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. borda B. borde C. bordemos D. bordad
Which is the gerund of bordar, used with estar for the progressive? A. bordado B. bordo C. bordé D. bordando
Answer key
- bordo — The first-person present of bordar is bordo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- bordó — The third-person preterite of bordar is bordó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- bordábamos — The nosotros imperfect of bordar is bordábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- bordarás — The second-person future of bordar is bordarás.
- bordaría — The first-person conditional of bordar is bordaría, the form for what would happen.
- borde — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of bordar is borde.
- bordara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of bordar is bordara.
- hemos bordado — The nosotros present perfect of bordar is hemos bordado: hemos + bordado.
- borda — The affirmative tú imperative of bordar is borda.
- bordando — The gerund of bordar is bordando: estoy bordando. The participle bordado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does bordar mean in English?
Bordar means to embroider. It is used in everyday situations such as Bordo un nombre en la camisa. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is bordar regular or irregular?
Bordar 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 bordo in the present and bordé in the preterite.
What is the difference between bordar and coser?
Bordar means to embroider, while coser means to sew, the general craft verb. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use bordar when you mean to embroider, as in Bordo un nombre en la camisa, and use coser for to sew, the general craft verb. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I embroider” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo bordé flores en el mantel. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo bordaba con hilo de colores. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he bordado flores en el mantel.
How do I practise bordar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the bordar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Bordar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for bordar.
- Bordar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for bordar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Fotografiar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with bordar.
- Grabar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with bordar.
- Pelar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with bordar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.