Introduction

Chillar means “to shriek”, and this page covers exactly one thing: chillar in the present tense. The present is the tense Spanish speakers reach for when they talk about what happens regularly and what is happening now. On this page you will find the full present table for chillar, how the tense is formed for this verb, the situations where it is used, how it differs from the preterite, worked examples, the mistakes learners make most often, an eight-question quiz with explained answers, and answers to the questions students ask about chillar in the present. Chillar in the present describes a habit, a fact or something happening right now. For example: “Yo chillo de alegría” — "I shriek with joy". Everything on this page uses the forms of chillar exactly as they are conjugated in the present, so you can trust every form you see here.

Chillar in the Present Tense — full table

Person Form
yo chillo
tú chillas
él/ella/Ud. chilla
nosotros/as chillamos
vosotros/as chilláis
ellos/ellas/Uds. chillan

Gerund: chillando · Past participle: chillado

The gerund is chillando, which you use with estar to say what is happening right now: “Estoy chillando” means the action of chillar is in progress at this very moment. The past participle is chillado, which you use with haber in the perfect tenses: “he chillado” is the present perfect, used for a completed action. Keep both forms in mind as you read the examples below, because the present is only one part of how chillar is used.

How the present of chillar is formed

Chillar is a regular -ar verb in the present. Take the stem chill and add the present endings for -ar verbs: -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an, giving chillo, chillas, chilla, chillamos, chilláis, chillan. Watch the accents: the vosotros form, chilláis, carries an accent on the á, é or í. The present of chillar is fully regular, but two details deserve attention. First, the accents: the vosotros form chilláis carries a written accent. Second, the yo form chillo is the form the present subjunctive is built from, so learn it well — it unlocks the subjunctive too.

When to use the present of chillar

The present is not a single-purpose tense. Below are the five situations where you will use chillar in the present most often. Each one comes with a real example, so read the rule, then say the example out loud.

1. Routines and habits

The present is the tense of what you do regularly. When something happens todos los días, cada semana or los fines de semana, chillar goes in the present. Example: “Yo chillo en el patio” — "I shriek in the yard".

2. General facts

Use the present for things that are true in general, not just today. A fact about chillar does not need a time word at all. Example: “Él chilla muy fuerte” — "He shrieks very loudly".

3. What is happening now

The present also covers what is happening at this very moment. Spanish often uses the simple present where English would use the -ing form, so chillo can mean both "I shriek" and "I am shrieking". Example: “Yo chillo de alegría” — "I shriek with joy".

4. Timetables and fixed plans

For a fixed plan or a timetable, Spanish uses the present: the plan is already decided, so the present states it as a fact. This is common with travel, lessons and appointments. Example: “Nosotros chillamos en el patio” — "We shriek in the yard".

5. Telling a story

Stories are sometimes told in the present to make them feel immediate, even when they happened in the past. This is the historical present, and it works with chillar just as it does with any other verb. Example: “Él chilla muy fuerte” — "He shrieks very loudly".

Present Tense vs Preterite: how to choose

The closest tense to the present is the preterite, and choosing between them is one of the first decisions in Spanish. The rule is simple: the present reports what happens regularly or what is happening now, while the preterite reports one finished action in the past. The three pairs below use the same verb, so the only thing that changes is whether the action is a habit or a finished event. Time words help: todos los días and cada semana point to the present, while ayer and la semana pasada point to the preterite.

  • Present Tense: “Yo chillo de alegría” — "I shriek with joy".

  • Preterite: “Yo chillé de alegría” — "I shrieked with joy".

  • The present sentence describes a habit or something happening now; the preterite sentence reports one finished action in the past. That difference — routine versus finished event — is the whole decision.

  • Present Tense: “Él chilla en el patio” — "He shrieks in the yard".

  • Preterite: “Él chilló en el patio” — "He shrieked in the yard".

  • The present sentence describes a habit or something happening now; the preterite sentence reports one finished action in the past. That difference — routine versus finished event — is the whole decision.

  • Present Tense: “Nosotros chillamos muy fuerte” — "We shriek very loudly".

  • Preterite: “Nosotros chillamos muy fuerte” — "We shrieked very loudly".

  • The two sentences look identical: chillamos is the same in the present and the preterite. Only the time words around it tell you which tense is meant.

Example sentences: chillar in the present

Read these eight sentences out loud. They cover all six persons, so by the end you will have seen every form in the table used in a real sentence. Pay attention to the words around the verb — the time expressions, the objects, the other verbs — because those are what make each sentence sound natural.

  1. “Yo chillo en el patio” — "I shriek in the yard"

  2. “Tú chillas muy fuerte” — "You shriek very loudly"

  3. “Él chilla de alegría” — "He shrieks with joy"

  4. “Nosotros chillamos en el patio” — "We shriek in the yard"

  5. “Vosotros chilláis muy fuerte” — "You shriek very loudly"

  6. “Ellos chillan de alegría” — "They shriek with joy"

  7. “Yo chillo en el patio” — "I shriek in the yard"

  8. “Él chilla muy fuerte” — "He shrieks very loudly"

Common mistakes with chillar in the present

These are the errors learners actually make with this verb in this tense. Each one shows the wrong version, the right version, and why the correction matters.

  • Wrong: “Ellos chilla de alegría” Right: “Ellos chillan de alegría” Why: Ellos needs the ellos form chillan. The singular chilla belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

  • Wrong: “Todos los días, yo chillé” Right: “Todos los días, yo chillo” Why: Todos los días describes a habit, so the present is right. The preterite (chillé) is for one finished action, not for routines.

  • Wrong: “Yo chilla de alegría.” Right: “Yo chillo de alegría” Why: Yo needs the yo form chillo. The él form chilla belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

  • Wrong: “Ayer, yo chillo” Right: “Ayer, yo chillé” Why: The present tense cannot describe a finished action yesterday. Ayer forces the preterite, so the form must change to chillé.

Quiz: chillar in the present

Choose the correct answer for each question, then check the answer key. Every answer is explained, so a wrong answer still teaches you something.

1. Complete the sentence: “Yo ___ muy fuerte.” (yo form)

A. chilláis B. chilla C. chillo D. chillamos

2. Complete the sentence: “Tú ___ de alegría.” (tú form)

A. chillas B. chilláis C. chillamos D. chilla

3. Complete the sentence: “Él ___ en el patio.” (él/ella/Ud. form)

A. chilla B. chillas C. chillamos D. chillan

4. Complete the sentence: “Nosotros ___ muy fuerte.” (nosotros/as form)

A. chillan B. chillas C. chillamos D. chilla

5. Complete the sentence: “Vosotros ___ de alegría.” (vosotros/as form)

A. chilla B. chillas C. chilláis D. chillo

6. Complete the sentence: “Ellos ___ en el patio.” (ellos/ellas/Uds. form)

A. chillan B. chillo C. chilla D. chillamos

7. Which time expression points to the present tense?

A. todos los días B. ayer C. la semana pasada D. anoche

8. Which sentence is correct?

A. Todos los días, yo chillo B. Todos los días, yo chillé

Answer key

  1. chillo — The yo present of chillar is chillo.
  2. chillas — The tú present of chillar is chillas.
  3. chilla — The él/ella/Ud. present of chillar is chilla.
  4. chillamos — The nosotros/as present of chillar is chillamos.
  5. chilláis — The vosotros/as present of chillar is chilláis.
  6. chillan — The ellos/ellas/Uds. present of chillar is chillan.
  7. todos los días — Todos los días describes a habit, so the present is right. Ayer, la semana pasada and anoche all point to the preterite.
  8. Todos los días, yo chillo — Todos los días is a habit, so the present is correct. The preterite is for one finished action.

Frequently asked questions

When do I use the present of chillar?

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening now. For example: Yo chillo de alegría. If the action is a habit or happening now, the present is the right choice.

How is the present of chillar formed?

Take the stem chill- and add the present endings for -ar verbs (-o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an), giving chillo, chillas, chilla, chillamos, chilláis, chillan.

What is the difference between the present and the preterite for chillar?

The present (chillo) describes a habit or something happening now, while the preterite (chillé) counts one finished action in the past. Compare the two sentences in the contrast section above: the verb is the same, only the tense changes.

How can I practise chillar in the present?

Say the six forms out loud — chillo, chillas, chilla, chillamos, chilláis, chillan — then use them in the example sentences above, changing the person each time. Then try the chillar examples and quiz page, and the full conjugation of chillar when you want to compare the present with the other tenses.

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