Cabecear Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb cabecear means to nod (the head), and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Cabecear means to nod the head, usually to say yes or to show agreement, and also to doze off with the head dropping. It is a fully regular verb used in conversation and at meetings. Like every Spanish verb, cabecear 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 cabeceo con aprobación en la reunión, and in the preterite you say cabeceé de sueño en el tren. 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: cabecear
- English: to nod (the head)
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: cabeceando
- Past participle: cabeceado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + cabeceado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for cabecear, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Cabecear is fully regular: cabeceo, cabecea. It is nodding the head; asentir is the formal word for agreeing with a nod.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for cabecear. 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 | cabeceo |
| tú | cabeceas |
| él/ella/Ud. | cabecea |
| nosotros/as | cabeceamos |
| vosotros/as | cabeceáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | cabecean |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | cabeceé |
| tú | cabeceaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | cabeceó |
| nosotros/as | cabeceamos |
| vosotros/as | cabeceasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | cabecearon |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | cabeceaba |
| tú | cabeceabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | cabeceaba |
| nosotros/as | cabeceábamos |
| vosotros/as | cabeceabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | cabeceaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | cabecearé |
| tú | cabecearás |
| él/ella/Ud. | cabeceará |
| nosotros/as | cabecearemos |
| vosotros/as | cabecearéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | cabecearán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | cabecearía |
| tú | cabecearías |
| él/ella/Ud. | cabecearía |
| nosotros/as | cabecearíamos |
| vosotros/as | cabecearíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | cabecearían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he cabeceado |
| tú | has cabeceado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha cabeceado |
| nosotros/as | hemos cabeceado |
| vosotros/as | habéis cabeceado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han cabeceado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había cabeceado |
| tú | habías cabeceado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había cabeceado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos cabeceado |
| vosotros/as | habíais cabeceado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían cabeceado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré cabeceado |
| tú | habrás cabeceado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá cabeceado |
| nosotros/as | habremos cabeceado |
| vosotros/as | habréis cabeceado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán cabeceado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría cabeceado |
| tú | habrías cabeceado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría cabeceado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos cabeceado |
| vosotros/as | habríais cabeceado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían cabeceado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | cabecee |
| tú | cabecees |
| él/ella/Ud. | cabecee |
| nosotros/as | cabeceemos |
| vosotros/as | cabeceéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | cabeceen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | cabeceara |
| tú | cabecearas |
| él/ella/Ud. | cabeceara |
| nosotros/as | cabeceáramos |
| vosotros/as | cabecearais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | cabecearan |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | cabecea |
| él/ella/Ud. | cabecee |
| nosotros/as | cabeceemos |
| vosotros/as | cabecead |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | cabeceen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | cabecees |
| él/ella/Ud. | cabecee |
| nosotros/as | cabeceemos |
| vosotros/as | cabeceéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | cabeceen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | cabeceando | with estar for the progressive: estoy cabeceando |
| Past participle | cabeceado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he cabeceado |
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 cabecear, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Cabeceo con aprobación en la reunión. 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 cabecear, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, cabeceé para decir que sí. 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 cabecear, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, cabeceaba de sueño en el tren. 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 cabecear, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, cabecearé al escuchar al profesor. 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 cabecear, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Cabecearía con aprobación en la reunión 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 cabecear, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he cabeceado para decir que sí. 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 cabecear, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había cabeceado de sueño en el tren 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 cabecear, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré cabeceado al escuchar al profesor. 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 cabecear, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría cabeceado con aprobación en la reunión 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 cabecear, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él cabecee para decir que sí. 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 cabecear, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él cabeceara de sueño en el tren, 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 cabecear, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Cabecea al escuchar al profesor! 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 cabecear, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No cabecees con aprobación en la reunión. 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 cabecear, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Cabeceo con aprobación en la reunión. — I nod in agreement in the meeting.
- Cabecea para decir que sí. — He/she nods to say yes.
- Ayer, cabeceé de sueño en el tren. — Yesterday, I nodded with sleepiness on the train.
- Antes, nosotros cabeceábamos al escuchar al profesor. — Before, we used to nod while listening to the teacher.
- Mañana, tú cabecearás con aprobación en la reunión. — Tomorrow, you will nod in agreement in the meeting.
- Yo cabecearía para decir que sí si tuviera más tiempo. — I would nod to say yes if I had more time.
- Él ha cabeceado de sueño en el tren. — He has nodded with sleepiness on the train.
- Espero que él cabecee al escuchar al profesor. — I hope he nods while listening to the teacher.
- Yo ya había cabeceado con aprobación en la reunión antes de salir. — I had already nodded in agreement in the meeting before leaving.
- Ellos cabeceaban para decir que sí cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to nod to say yes when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo cabecea con aprobación en la reunión. — Right: Yo cabeceo con aprobación en la reunión. — The person matters: cabecea is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is cabeceo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Ayer yo cabeceo para decir que sí. — Right: Ayer yo cabeceé para decir que sí. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: cabeceo is happening now, while cabeceé is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
- Wrong: Treating cabecear and asentir as identical in every context. — Right: Cabecear means to nod (the head), while asentir means to nod in agreement. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: cabecear fits sentences such as Cabeceo con aprobación en la reunión, while asentir belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy cabeceado para decir que sí. — Right: Yo he cabeceado para decir que sí. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he cabeceado, has cabeceado, ha cabeceado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo cabeceé de sueño en el tren todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo cabeceaba de sueño en el tren todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (cabeceaba), not the preterite. The preterite (cabeceé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on cabecear. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ con aprobación en la reunión. (present tense) A. cabeceo B. cabeceas C. cabecea D. cabeceamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ para decir que sí. (preterite) A. cabeceé B. cabeceaste C. cabecearon D. cabeceó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ de sueño en el tren. (imperfect) A. cabeceabas B. cabeceaban C. cabeceábamos D. cabeceaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ al escuchar al profesor. (future) A. cabecearemos B. cabecearás C. cabecearé D. cabeceará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ con aprobación en la reunión si pudiera. (conditional) A. cabecearía B. cabecearías C. cabecearían D. cabeceo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ para decir que sí. (present subjunctive) A. cabecees B. cabeceemos C. cabeceo D. cabecee
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ de sueño en el tren, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. cabeceáramos B. cabeceo C. cabeceara D. cabecearas
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ al escuchar al profesor. (present perfect) A. han cabeceado B. hemos cabeceado C. he cabeceado D. has cabeceado
Complete the command: ¡___ con aprobación en la reunión! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. cabecea B. cabecee C. cabeceemos D. cabecead
Which is the gerund of cabecear, used with estar for the progressive? A. cabeceado B. cabeceo C. cabeceé D. cabeceando
Answer key
- cabeceo — The first-person present of cabecear is cabeceo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- cabeceó — The third-person preterite of cabecear is cabeceó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- cabeceábamos — The nosotros imperfect of cabecear is cabeceábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- cabecearás — The second-person future of cabecear is cabecearás.
- cabecearía — The first-person conditional of cabecear is cabecearía, the form for what would happen.
- cabecee — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of cabecear is cabecee.
- cabeceara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of cabecear is cabeceara.
- hemos cabeceado — The nosotros present perfect of cabecear is hemos cabeceado: hemos + cabeceado.
- cabecea — The affirmative tú imperative of cabecear is cabecea.
- cabeceando — The gerund of cabecear is cabeceando: estoy cabeceando. The participle cabeceado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does cabecear mean in English?
Cabecear means to nod (the head). It is used in everyday situations such as Cabeceo con aprobación en la reunión. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is cabecear regular or irregular?
Cabecear 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 cabeceo in the present and cabeceé in the preterite.
What is the difference between cabecear and asentir?
Cabecear means to nod (the head), while asentir means to nod in agreement. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use cabecear when you mean to nod (the head), as in Cabeceo con aprobación en la reunión, and use asentir for to nod in agreement. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I nod (the head)” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo cabeceé para decir que sí. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo cabeceaba de sueño en el tren. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he cabeceado para decir que sí.
How do I practise cabecear?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the cabecear examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Cabecear in the present tense — the full present-tense table for cabecear.
- Cabecear examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for cabecear.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Botar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with cabecear.
- Centrar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with cabecear.
- Bromear conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with cabecear.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.