Debilitarse Conjugation in Spanish
debilitarse means "to weaken" in English, and it comes up when people talk about the illness in winter, lack of food, the summer heat and the operation. This page gives you the complete conjugation of debilitarse in every tense and mood — present, preterite, imperfect, future, conditional, the four perfect tenses, both subjunctive tenses and the imperative — with all six persons, plus the gerund and the past participle. Every form below comes from VerbFlow's verified conjugation tables, so you can trust the accents and the spelling changes. debilitarse is a Reflexive regular -ar verb, and the notes under each tense explain exactly where it follows the rules and where it breaks them. To hear it in a real sentence: Cada día, yo me debilito con la enfermedad en invierno. — "Every day, I weaken with the illness in winter." Work through the tables, read the notes, then test yourself with the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: debilitarse
- English: to weaken
- Verb type: Reflexive regular -ar verb
- Gerund: debilitando
- Past participle: debilitado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all compound tenses use haber + debilitado)
- Reflexive: yes — always use it with the reflexive pronouns me, te, se, nos, os, se.
Full conjugation table
Every tense of debilitarse with all six persons. The gerund is debilitando and the past participle is debilitado.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | debilito |
| tú | debilitas |
| él/ella/Ud. | debilita |
| nosotros/as | debilitamos |
| vosotros/as | debilitáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | debilitan |
Preterite (past)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | debilité |
| tú | debilitaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | debilitó |
| nosotros/as | debilitamos |
| vosotros/as | debilitasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | debilitaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | debilitaba |
| tú | debilitabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | debilitaba |
| nosotros/as | debilitábamos |
| vosotros/as | debilitabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | debilitaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | debilitaré |
| tú | debilitarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | debilitará |
| nosotros/as | debilitaremos |
| vosotros/as | debilitaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | debilitarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | debilitaría |
| tú | debilitarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | debilitaría |
| nosotros/as | debilitaríamos |
| vosotros/as | debilitaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | debilitarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he debilitado |
| tú | has debilitado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha debilitado |
| nosotros/as | hemos debilitado |
| vosotros/as | habéis debilitado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han debilitado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había debilitado |
| tú | habías debilitado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había debilitado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos debilitado |
| vosotros/as | habíais debilitado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían debilitado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré debilitado |
| tú | habrás debilitado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá debilitado |
| nosotros/as | habremos debilitado |
| vosotros/as | habréis debilitado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán debilitado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría debilitado |
| tú | habrías debilitado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría debilitado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos debilitado |
| vosotros/as | habríais debilitado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían debilitado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | debilite |
| tú | debilites |
| él/ella/Ud. | debilite |
| nosotros/as | debilitemos |
| vosotros/as | debilitéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | debiliten |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | debilitara |
| tú | debilitaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | debilitara |
| nosotros/as | debilitáramos |
| vosotros/as | debilitarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | debilitaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | debilita |
| él/ella/Ud. | debilite |
| nosotros/as | debilitemos |
| vosotros/as | debilitad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | debiliten |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | debilites |
| él/ella/Ud. | debilite |
| nosotros/as | debilitemos |
| vosotros/as | debilitéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | debiliten |
Notes on each tense
A short note for every tense: when it is used, one example, and anything irregular about debilitarse in that tense.
Present indicative
The present indicative of debilitarse is used for routines, habits, general truths and things happening right now. Cada día, yo me debilito con la enfermedad en invierno. — "Every day, I weaken with the illness in winter." For debilitarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem debilit- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Preterite (past)
The preterite (past) of debilitarse is used for one action that started and finished in the past. Ayer, yo me debilité por la falta de comida. — "Yesterday, I weakened from lack of food." For debilitarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem debilit- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Imperfect
The imperfect of debilitarse is used for an ongoing or repeated action in the past, background description and habits that no longer happen. Antes, yo me debilitaba con el calor del verano. — "In the past, I used to weaken in the summer heat." For debilitarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem debilit- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Future
The future of debilitarse is used for what will happen, plans and predictions. Mañana, nosotros nos debilitaremos después de la operación. — "Tomorrow, we will weaken after the operation." For debilitarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem debilit- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Conditional
The conditional of debilitarse is used for what would happen, hypothetical situations and polite requests. Si pudieras, tú te debilitarías con la enfermedad en invierno. — "If you could, you would weaken with the illness in winter." For debilitarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem debilit- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Present perfect
The present perfect of debilitarse is used for an action completed in the recent past that still matters now, or life experience up to now. Yo me he debilitado por la falta de comida. — "I have weakened from lack of food." For debilitarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem debilit- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Pluperfect
The pluperfect of debilitarse is used for an action that had already happened before another past action. Antes de la fiesta, yo me había debilitado con el calor del verano. — "Before the party, I had weakened in the summer heat." For debilitarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem debilit- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Future perfect
The future perfect of debilitarse is used for an action that will be finished by a point in the future. Para mañana, yo me habré debilitado después de la operación. — "By tomorrow, I will have weakened after the operation." For debilitarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem debilit- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Conditional perfect
The conditional perfect of debilitarse is used for what would have happened if things had been different. Si hubiera podido, yo me habría debilitado con la enfermedad en invierno. — "If I had been able to, I would have weakened with the illness in winter." For debilitarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem debilit- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Present subjunctive
The present subjunctive of debilitarse is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and requests after expressions such as espero que. Espero que él se debilite por la falta de comida. — "I hope that he/she weakens from lack of food." For debilitarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem debilit- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
The imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of debilitarse is used for the same subjunctive meanings in the past, and in si clauses about unreal situations. Si él se debilitara con el calor del verano, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she weakened in the summer heat, everything would turn out better." For debilitarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem debilit- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Imperative (affirmative)
The imperative (affirmative) of debilitarse is used for orders, instructions and invitations. ¡Que se debilite después de la operación! — "Let him/her weaken after the operation!" For debilitarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem debilit- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Imperative (negative)
The imperative (negative) of debilitarse is used for prohibitions and negative orders. No te debilites con la enfermedad en invierno. — "Do not weaken with the illness in winter." For debilitarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem debilit- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Examples: debilitarse in real sentences
Ten sentences with debilitarse, one for each main tense, each with its English translation. Read them aloud, then try changing the person and the complement to make your own versions.
- Cada día, yo me debilito con la enfermedad en invierno. — "Every day, I weaken with the illness in winter." This is the present tense, used for a habit.
- Ayer, yo me debilité por la falta de comida. — "Yesterday, I weakened from lack of food." This is the preterite, one finished action.
- Antes, yo me debilitaba con el calor del verano. — "In the past, I used to weaken in the summer heat." This is the imperfect, a repeated action in the past.
- Mañana, nosotros nos debilitaremos después de la operación. — "Tomorrow, we will weaken after the operation." This is the future tense, a plan for tomorrow.
- Si pudieras, tú te debilitarías con la enfermedad en invierno. — "If you could, you would weaken with the illness in winter." This is the conditional, something that would happen.
- Yo me he debilitado por la falta de comida. — "I have weakened from lack of food." This is the present perfect, an action with present relevance.
- Espero que él se debilite con el calor del verano. — "I hope that he/she weakens in the summer heat." This is the present subjunctive, after espero que.
- Si él se debilitara después de la operación, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she weakened after the operation, everything would turn out better." This is the imperfect subjunctive, in a si clause.
- ¡No te debilites con la enfermedad en invierno! — "Do not weaken with the illness in winter!" This is the imperative, a direct order or request.
- Ahora, Yo me estoy debilitando por la falta de comida. — "Now, I am weakening from lack of food." This is the progressive, with estar and the gerund.
Common mistakes with debilitarse
The errors learners actually make with debilitarse, each with the wrong form, the right form, and why it is wrong.
Mistake 1: Forgetting the reflexive pronoun
- Wrong: Yo debilito con la enfermedad en invierno.
- Right: Yo me debilito con la enfermedad en invierno.
- Why: debilitarse is reflexive, so the pronoun is part of the verb: Yo me debilito con la enfermedad en invierno.. Without me the sentence is incomplete, and it sounds as if the action happens to someone else.
Mistake 2: Dropping the accent on the vosotros form
- Wrong: Vosotros os debilitais con la enfermedad en invierno.
- Right: Vosotros os debilitáis con la enfermedad en invierno.
- Why: The vosotros form debilitáis carries a written accent. Without it the word is misspelled, and in writing the accent is part of the form.
Mistake 3: Using the present tense for yesterday
- Wrong: Ayer, yo me debilito por la falta de comida.
- Right: Ayer, yo me debilité por la falta de comida.
- Why: Ayer means yesterday, so the action is finished and needs the preterite. The present tense is for habits and routines, not for yesterday: Ayer, yo me debilité por la falta de comida. — "Yesterday, I weakened from lack of food."
Mistake 4: Mixing up the gerund and the participle
- Wrong: Me estoy debilitado con el calor del verano.
- Right: Me estoy debilitando con el calor del verano.
- Why: After estar you need the gerund debilitando for the progressive. The participle debilitado goes with haber in the perfect tenses (me he debilitado), never after estar.
Mistake 5: Using the él form for nosotros
- Wrong: Nosotros nos debilita con la enfermedad en invierno.
- Right: Nosotros nos debilitamos con la enfermedad en invierno.
- Why: The person and the ending must match: nosotros takes debilitamos, while debilita belongs to él and ella. Check the person first, then choose the form.
Quiz: debilitarse conjugation
Test yourself with ten questions on debilitarse. The answers are explained, so read them even when you get a question right.
1. What is the yo form of debilitarse in the present tense?
- (a) debilitamos
- (b) debilito
- (c) debilitas
- (d) debilita
Answer: (b) debilito. The yo form is debilito. Check the person before you answer.
2. What is the tú form of debilitarse in the present tense?
- (a) debilitas
- (b) debilito
- (c) debilita
- (d) debilitamos
Answer: (a) debilitas. The tú form is debilitas. Check the person before you answer.
3. What is the él/ella form of debilitarse in the present tense?
- (a) debilito
- (b) debilitas
- (c) debilitamos
- (d) debilita
Answer: (d) debilita. The él/ella form is debilita. Check the person before you answer.
4. What is the nosotros form of debilitarse in the present tense?
- (a) debilitas
- (b) debilita
- (c) debilitamos
- (d) debilito
Answer: (c) debilitamos. The nosotros form is debilitamos. Check the person before you answer.
5. What is the ellos/ellas form of debilitarse in the present tense?
- (a) debilita
- (b) debilitan
- (c) debilito
- (d) debilitas
Answer: (b) debilitan. The ellos/ellas form is debilitan. Check the person before you answer.
6. What is the gerund of debilitarse?
- (a) debilitarse
- (b) debilitando
- (c) debilitado
- (d) debilito
Answer: (b) debilitando. The gerund is debilitando, used for the progressive: me estoy debilitando.
7. What is the past participle of debilitarse?
- (a) debilitado
- (b) debilitando
- (c) debilité
- (d) debilitarse
Answer: (a) debilitado. The past participle is debilitado, used with haber in all perfect tenses: me he debilitado.
8. Complete the sentence: Cada día, yo ___ con la enfermedad en invierno.
- (a) debilitas
- (b) debilita
- (c) debilitamos
- (d) debilito
Answer: (d) debilito. The sentence needs the yo form debilito (Every day, I weaken with the illness in winter.)
9. What is the yo form of debilitarse in the preterite?
- (a) debilitó
- (b) debilitamos
- (c) debilité
- (d) debilitaste
Answer: (c) debilité. The yo preterite is debilité. The preterite describes one finished action.
10. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ con el calor del verano.
- (a) debilite
- (b) debilites
- (c) debilitemos
- (d) debilitéis
Answer: (a) debilite. After espero que Spanish needs the subjunctive, and the él form is debilite.
Frequently asked questions about debilitarse
Is debilitarse regular?
Yes. debilitarse is a regular -ar verb: debilito, debilité, debilitaba, debilitaré. There are no spelling changes and no stem changes, so once you know the endings you can conjugate it in every tense.
What does debilitarse mean, and when do I use it?
debilitarse means "to weaken" in English. Use it when you talk about the illness in winter, lack of food, the summer heat and the operation — for example: Yo me debilito con la enfermedad en invierno. — "I weaken with the illness in winter." It is a practical verb for everyday conversation, and it appears in all the tenses on this page.
How do you say it in a real sentence?
A natural sentence is: Yo me debilito con la enfermedad en invierno. — "I weaken with the illness in winter." Change the person using the table above, and change the complement to talk about your own life: the verb stays the same, only the ending changes.
Is debilitarse reflexive?
Yes. debilitarse is reflexive, so it always travels with a pronoun: me, te, se, nos, os, se. Yo me debilito con la enfermedad en invierno. — "I weaken with the illness in winter." If you drop the pronoun, the sentence is incomplete. The pronoun goes before the conjugated verb, and it attaches to the end of the gerund and of affirmative imperatives.
When do I use the present tense instead of the preterite with debilitarse?
Use the present for habits and routines: Yo me debilito con la enfermedad en invierno. — "I weaken with the illness in winter." Use the preterite for one finished action: Ayer, yo me debilité con la enfermedad en invierno. — "Yesterday, I weakened with the illness in winter." If the action happens regularly, choose the present; if it happened once and is finished, choose the preterite.