Chupar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb chupar means to suck, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Chupar means to suck, and it is used for sucking a sweet, sucking through a straw and a baby sucking its thumb. It is fully regular, and it is the everyday verb for sucking in Spain and Latin America. Like every Spanish verb, chupar 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 chupo un caramelo en clase, and in the preterite you say chupé el dedo de pequeño. 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: chupar
- English: to suck
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: chupando
- Past participle: chupado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + chupado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for chupar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Chupar is fully regular: chupé, chupaba, chuparé. Chupar un caramelo is to suck a sweet.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for chupar. 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 | chupo |
| tú | chupas |
| él/ella/Ud. | chupa |
| nosotros/as | chupamos |
| vosotros/as | chupáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | chupan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | chupé |
| tú | chupaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | chupó |
| nosotros/as | chupamos |
| vosotros/as | chupasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | chuparon |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | chupaba |
| tú | chupabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | chupaba |
| nosotros/as | chupábamos |
| vosotros/as | chupabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | chupaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | chuparé |
| tú | chuparás |
| él/ella/Ud. | chupará |
| nosotros/as | chuparemos |
| vosotros/as | chuparéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | chuparán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | chuparía |
| tú | chuparías |
| él/ella/Ud. | chuparía |
| nosotros/as | chuparíamos |
| vosotros/as | chuparíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | chuparían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he chupado |
| tú | has chupado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha chupado |
| nosotros/as | hemos chupado |
| vosotros/as | habéis chupado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han chupado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había chupado |
| tú | habías chupado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había chupado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos chupado |
| vosotros/as | habíais chupado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían chupado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré chupado |
| tú | habrás chupado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá chupado |
| nosotros/as | habremos chupado |
| vosotros/as | habréis chupado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán chupado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría chupado |
| tú | habrías chupado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría chupado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos chupado |
| vosotros/as | habríais chupado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían chupado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | chupe |
| tú | chupes |
| él/ella/Ud. | chupe |
| nosotros/as | chupemos |
| vosotros/as | chupéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | chupen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | chupara |
| tú | chuparas |
| él/ella/Ud. | chupara |
| nosotros/as | chupáramos |
| vosotros/as | chuparais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | chuparan |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | chupa |
| él/ella/Ud. | chupe |
| nosotros/as | chupemos |
| vosotros/as | chupad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | chupen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | chupes |
| él/ella/Ud. | chupe |
| nosotros/as | chupemos |
| vosotros/as | chupéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | chupen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | chupando | with estar for the progressive: estoy chupando |
| Past participle | chupado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he chupado |
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 chupar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Chupo un caramelo en clase. 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 chupar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, chupé con una pajita el zumo. 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 chupar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, chupaba el dedo de pequeño. 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 chupar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, chuparé un helado en verano. 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 chupar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Chuparía un caramelo en clase 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 chupar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he chupado con una pajita el zumo. 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 chupar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había chupado el dedo de pequeño 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 chupar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré chupado un helado en verano. 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 chupar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría chupado un caramelo en clase 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 chupar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él chupe con una pajita el zumo. 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 chupar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él chupara el dedo de pequeño, 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 chupar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Chupa un helado en verano! 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 chupar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No chupes un caramelo en clase. 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 chupar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Chupo un caramelo en clase. — I suck a sweet in class.
- Chupa con una pajita el zumo. — He/she sucks the juice through a straw.
- Ayer, chupé el dedo de pequeño. — Yesterday, I sucked my finger as a small child.
- Antes, nosotros chupábamos un helado en verano. — Before, we used to suck an ice cream in summer.
- Mañana, tú chuparás un caramelo en clase. — Tomorrow, you will suck a sweet in class.
- Yo chuparía con una pajita el zumo si tuviera más tiempo. — I would suck the juice through a straw if I had more time.
- Él ha chupado el dedo de pequeño. — He has sucked my finger as a small child.
- Espero que él chupe un helado en verano. — I hope he sucks an ice cream in summer.
- Yo ya había chupado un caramelo en clase antes de salir. — I had already sucked a sweet in class before leaving.
- Ellos chupaban con una pajita el zumo cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to suck the juice through a straw when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo chupa un caramelo en clase. — Right: Yo chupo un caramelo en clase. — The person matters: chupa is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is chupo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Ayer yo chupo con una pajita el zumo. — Right: Ayer yo chupé con una pajita el zumo. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: chupo is happening now, while chupé is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
- Wrong: Treating chupar and lamer as identical in every context. — Right: Chupar means to suck, while lamer means to lick. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: chupar fits sentences such as Chupo un caramelo en clase, while lamer belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy chupado con una pajita el zumo. — Right: Yo he chupado con una pajita el zumo. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he chupado, has chupado, ha chupado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo chupé el dedo de pequeño todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo chupaba el dedo de pequeño todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (chupaba), not the preterite. The preterite (chupé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on chupar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ un caramelo en clase. (present tense) A. chupo B. chupas C. chupa D. chupamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ con una pajita el zumo. (preterite) A. chupé B. chupaste C. chuparon D. chupó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ el dedo de pequeño. (imperfect) A. chupabas B. chupaban C. chupábamos D. chupaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ un helado en verano. (future) A. chuparemos B. chuparás C. chuparé D. chupará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ un caramelo en clase si pudiera. (conditional) A. chuparía B. chuparías C. chuparían D. chupo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ con una pajita el zumo. (present subjunctive) A. chupes B. chupemos C. chupo D. chupe
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ el dedo de pequeño, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. chupáramos B. chupo C. chupara D. chuparas
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ un helado en verano. (present perfect) A. han chupado B. hemos chupado C. he chupado D. has chupado
Complete the command: ¡___ un caramelo en clase! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. chupa B. chupe C. chupemos D. chupad
Which is the gerund of chupar, used with estar for the progressive? A. chupado B. chupo C. chupé D. chupando
Answer key
- chupo — The first-person present of chupar is chupo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- chupó — The third-person preterite of chupar is chupó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- chupábamos — The nosotros imperfect of chupar is chupábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- chuparás — The second-person future of chupar is chuparás.
- chuparía — The first-person conditional of chupar is chuparía, the form for what would happen.
- chupe — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of chupar is chupe.
- chupara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of chupar is chupara.
- hemos chupado — The nosotros present perfect of chupar is hemos chupado: hemos + chupado.
- chupa — The affirmative tú imperative of chupar is chupa.
- chupando — The gerund of chupar is chupando: estoy chupando. The participle chupado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does chupar mean in English?
Chupar means to suck. It is used in everyday situations such as Chupo un caramelo en clase. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is chupar regular or irregular?
Chupar 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 chupo in the present and chupé in the preterite.
What is the difference between chupar and lamer?
Chupar means to suck, while lamer means to lick. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use chupar when you mean to suck, as in Chupo un caramelo en clase, and use lamer for to lick. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I suck” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo chupé con una pajita el zumo. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo chupaba el dedo de pequeño. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he chupado con una pajita el zumo.
How do I practise chupar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the chupar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Chupar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for chupar.
- Chupar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for chupar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Mamar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with chupar.
- Alimentar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with chupar.
- Masticar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with chupar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.