Bromear Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb bromear means to joke, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Bromear means to joke, to say something funny without being serious. It is used among friends, family and colleagues, and it is a fully regular verb. Like every Spanish verb, bromear 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 bromeo con sus amigos en el bar, and in the preterite you say bromeé con su hermano por teléfono. 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: bromear
- English: to joke
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: bromeando
- Past participle: bromeado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + bromeado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for bromear, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Bromear is fully regular: bromeo, bromea. It is making jokes; reír is laughing at them.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for bromear. 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 | bromeo |
| tú | bromeas |
| él/ella/Ud. | bromea |
| nosotros/as | bromeamos |
| vosotros/as | bromeáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | bromean |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | bromeé |
| tú | bromeaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | bromeó |
| nosotros/as | bromeamos |
| vosotros/as | bromeasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | bromearon |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | bromeaba |
| tú | bromeabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | bromeaba |
| nosotros/as | bromeábamos |
| vosotros/as | bromeabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | bromeaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | bromearé |
| tú | bromearás |
| él/ella/Ud. | bromeará |
| nosotros/as | bromearemos |
| vosotros/as | bromearéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | bromearán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | bromearía |
| tú | bromearías |
| él/ella/Ud. | bromearía |
| nosotros/as | bromearíamos |
| vosotros/as | bromearíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | bromearían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he bromeado |
| tú | has bromeado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha bromeado |
| nosotros/as | hemos bromeado |
| vosotros/as | habéis bromeado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han bromeado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había bromeado |
| tú | habías bromeado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había bromeado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos bromeado |
| vosotros/as | habíais bromeado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían bromeado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré bromeado |
| tú | habrás bromeado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá bromeado |
| nosotros/as | habremos bromeado |
| vosotros/as | habréis bromeado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán bromeado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría bromeado |
| tú | habrías bromeado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría bromeado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos bromeado |
| vosotros/as | habríais bromeado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían bromeado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | bromee |
| tú | bromees |
| él/ella/Ud. | bromee |
| nosotros/as | bromeemos |
| vosotros/as | bromeéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | bromeen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | bromeara |
| tú | bromearas |
| él/ella/Ud. | bromeara |
| nosotros/as | bromeáramos |
| vosotros/as | bromearais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | bromearan |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | bromea |
| él/ella/Ud. | bromee |
| nosotros/as | bromeemos |
| vosotros/as | bromead |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | bromeen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | bromees |
| él/ella/Ud. | bromee |
| nosotros/as | bromeemos |
| vosotros/as | bromeéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | bromeen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | bromeando | with estar for the progressive: estoy bromeando |
| Past participle | bromeado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he bromeado |
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 bromear, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Bromeo con sus amigos en el bar. 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 bromear, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, bromeé sobre el jefe en la oficina. 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 bromear, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, bromeaba con su hermano por teléfono. 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 bromear, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, bromearé en clase para romper el hielo. 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 bromear, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Bromearía con sus amigos en el bar 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 bromear, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he bromeado sobre el jefe en la oficina. 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 bromear, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había bromeado con su hermano por teléfono 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 bromear, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré bromeado en clase para romper el hielo. 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 bromear, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría bromeado con sus amigos en el bar 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 bromear, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él bromee sobre el jefe en la oficina. 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 bromear, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él bromeara con su hermano por teléfono, 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 bromear, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Bromea en clase para romper el hielo! 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 bromear, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No bromees con sus amigos en el bar. 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 bromear, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Bromeo con sus amigos en el bar. — I joke with his friends in the bar.
- Bromea sobre el jefe en la oficina. — He/she jokes about the boss in the office.
- Ayer, bromeé con su hermano por teléfono. — Yesterday, I joked with his brother on the phone.
- Antes, nosotros bromeábamos en clase para romper el hielo. — Before, we used to joke in class to break the ice.
- Mañana, tú bromearás con sus amigos en el bar. — Tomorrow, you will joke with his friends in the bar.
- Yo bromearía sobre el jefe en la oficina si tuviera más tiempo. — I would joke about the boss in the office if I had more time.
- Él ha bromeado con su hermano por teléfono. — He has joked with his brother on the phone.
- Espero que él bromee en clase para romper el hielo. — I hope he jokes in class to break the ice.
- Yo ya había bromeado con sus amigos en el bar antes de salir. — I had already joked with his friends in the bar before leaving.
- Ellos bromeaban sobre el jefe en la oficina cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to joke about the boss in the office when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo bromea con sus amigos en el bar. — Right: Yo bromeo con sus amigos en el bar. — The person matters: bromea is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is bromeo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Ayer yo bromeo sobre el jefe en la oficina. — Right: Ayer yo bromeé sobre el jefe en la oficina. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: bromeo is happening now, while bromeé is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
- Wrong: Treating bromear and reír as identical in every context. — Right: Bromear means to joke, while reír means to laugh. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: bromear fits sentences such as Bromeo con sus amigos en el bar, while reír belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy bromeado sobre el jefe en la oficina. — Right: Yo he bromeado sobre el jefe en la oficina. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he bromeado, has bromeado, ha bromeado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo bromeé con su hermano por teléfono todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo bromeaba con su hermano por teléfono todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (bromeaba), not the preterite. The preterite (bromeé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on bromear. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ con sus amigos en el bar. (present tense) A. bromeo B. bromeas C. bromea D. bromeamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ sobre el jefe en la oficina. (preterite) A. bromeé B. bromeaste C. bromearon D. bromeó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ con su hermano por teléfono. (imperfect) A. bromeabas B. bromeaban C. bromeábamos D. bromeaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ en clase para romper el hielo. (future) A. bromearemos B. bromearás C. bromearé D. bromeará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ con sus amigos en el bar si pudiera. (conditional) A. bromearía B. bromearías C. bromearían D. bromeo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ sobre el jefe en la oficina. (present subjunctive) A. bromees B. bromeemos C. bromeo D. bromee
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ con su hermano por teléfono, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. bromeáramos B. bromeo C. bromeara D. bromearas
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ en clase para romper el hielo. (present perfect) A. han bromeado B. hemos bromeado C. he bromeado D. has bromeado
Complete the command: ¡___ con sus amigos en el bar! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. bromea B. bromee C. bromeemos D. bromead
Which is the gerund of bromear, used with estar for the progressive? A. bromeado B. bromeo C. bromeé D. bromeando
Answer key
- bromeo — The first-person present of bromear is bromeo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- bromeó — The third-person preterite of bromear is bromeó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- bromeábamos — The nosotros imperfect of bromear is bromeábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- bromearás — The second-person future of bromear is bromearás.
- bromearía — The first-person conditional of bromear is bromearía, the form for what would happen.
- bromee — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of bromear is bromee.
- bromeara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of bromear is bromeara.
- hemos bromeado — The nosotros present perfect of bromear is hemos bromeado: hemos + bromeado.
- bromea — The affirmative tú imperative of bromear is bromea.
- bromeando — The gerund of bromear is bromeando: estoy bromeando. The participle bromeado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does bromear mean in English?
Bromear means to joke. It is used in everyday situations such as Bromeo con sus amigos en el bar. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is bromear regular or irregular?
Bromear 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 bromeo in the present and bromeé in the preterite.
What is the difference between bromear and reír?
Bromear means to joke, while reír means to laugh. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use bromear when you mean to joke, as in Bromeo con sus amigos en el bar, and use reír for to laugh. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I joke” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo bromeé sobre el jefe en la oficina. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo bromeaba con su hermano por teléfono. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he bromeado sobre el jefe en la oficina.
How do I practise bromear?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the bromear examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Bromear in the present tense — the full present-tense table for bromear.
- Bromear examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for bromear.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Azotar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with bromear.
- Botar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with bromear.
- Asimilar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with bromear.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.