Descifrar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb descifrar means to decipher, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Descifrar means to decipher, to work out the meaning of a code, a handwriting or a puzzle. It is used for codes, old letters and mysteries, and it is fully regular. Like every Spanish verb, descifrar 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 descifro el código secreto del mensaje, and in the preterite you say descifré el enigma del libro. 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: descifrar
- English: to decipher
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: descifrando
- Past participle: descifrado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + descifrado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for descifrar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Descifrar is fully regular: descifro, descifra. It is cracking a code or reading difficult writing; interpretar is explaining the meaning.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for descifrar. 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 | descifro |
| tú | descifras |
| él/ella/Ud. | descifra |
| nosotros/as | desciframos |
| vosotros/as | descifráis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | descifran |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | descifré |
| tú | descifraste |
| él/ella/Ud. | descifró |
| nosotros/as | desciframos |
| vosotros/as | descifrasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | descifraron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | descifraba |
| tú | descifrabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | descifraba |
| nosotros/as | descifrábamos |
| vosotros/as | descifrabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | descifraban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | descifraré |
| tú | descifrarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | descifrará |
| nosotros/as | descifraremos |
| vosotros/as | descifraréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | descifrarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | descifraría |
| tú | descifrarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | descifraría |
| nosotros/as | descifraríamos |
| vosotros/as | descifraríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | descifrarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he descifrado |
| tú | has descifrado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha descifrado |
| nosotros/as | hemos descifrado |
| vosotros/as | habéis descifrado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han descifrado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había descifrado |
| tú | habías descifrado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había descifrado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos descifrado |
| vosotros/as | habíais descifrado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían descifrado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré descifrado |
| tú | habrás descifrado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá descifrado |
| nosotros/as | habremos descifrado |
| vosotros/as | habréis descifrado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán descifrado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría descifrado |
| tú | habrías descifrado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría descifrado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos descifrado |
| vosotros/as | habríais descifrado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían descifrado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | descifre |
| tú | descifres |
| él/ella/Ud. | descifre |
| nosotros/as | descifremos |
| vosotros/as | descifréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | descifren |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | descifrara |
| tú | descifraras |
| él/ella/Ud. | descifrara |
| nosotros/as | descifráramos |
| vosotros/as | descifrarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | descifraran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | descifra |
| él/ella/Ud. | descifre |
| nosotros/as | descifremos |
| vosotros/as | descifrad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | descifren |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | descifres |
| él/ella/Ud. | descifre |
| nosotros/as | descifremos |
| vosotros/as | descifréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | descifren |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | descifrando | with estar for the progressive: estoy descifrando |
| Past participle | descifrado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he descifrado |
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 descifrar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Descifro el código secreto del mensaje. 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 descifrar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, descifré la letra de la carta antigua. 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 descifrar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, descifraba el enigma del libro. 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 descifrar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, descifraré el jeroglífico del museo. 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 descifrar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Descifraría el código secreto del mensaje 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 descifrar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he descifrado la letra de la carta antigua. 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 descifrar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había descifrado el enigma del libro 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 descifrar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré descifrado el jeroglífico del museo. 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 descifrar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría descifrado el código secreto del mensaje 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 descifrar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él descifre la letra de la carta antigua. 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 descifrar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él descifrara el enigma del libro, 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 descifrar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Descifra el jeroglífico del museo! 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 descifrar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No descifres el código secreto del mensaje. 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 descifrar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Descifro el código secreto del mensaje. — I decipher the secret code in the message.
- Descifra la letra de la carta antigua. — He/she deciphers the handwriting in the old letter.
- Ayer, descifré el enigma del libro. — Yesterday, I deciphered the riddle in the book.
- Antes, nosotros descifrábamos el jeroglífico del museo. — Before, we used to decipher the hieroglyph in the museum.
- Mañana, tú descifrarás el código secreto del mensaje. — Tomorrow, you will decipher the secret code in the message.
- Yo descifraría la letra de la carta antigua si tuviera más tiempo. — I would decipher the handwriting in the old letter if I had more time.
- Él ha descifrado el enigma del libro. — He has deciphered the riddle in the book.
- Espero que él descifre el jeroglífico del museo. — I hope he deciphers the hieroglyph in the museum.
- Yo ya había descifrado el código secreto del mensaje antes de salir. — I had already deciphered the secret code in the message before leaving.
- Ellos descifraban la letra de la carta antigua cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to decipher the handwriting in the old letter when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo descifra el código secreto del mensaje. — Right: Yo descifro el código secreto del mensaje. — The person matters: descifra is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is descifro. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Ayer yo descifro la letra de la carta antigua. — Right: Ayer yo descifré la letra de la carta antigua. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: descifro is happening now, while descifré is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
- Wrong: Treating descifrar and interpretar as identical in every context. — Right: Descifrar means to decipher, while interpretar means to interpret. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: descifrar fits sentences such as Descifro el código secreto del mensaje, while interpretar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy descifrado la letra de la carta antigua. — Right: Yo he descifrado la letra de la carta antigua. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he descifrado, has descifrado, ha descifrado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo descifré el enigma del libro todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo descifraba el enigma del libro todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (descifraba), not the preterite. The preterite (descifré) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on descifrar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el código secreto del mensaje. (present tense) A. descifro B. descifras C. descifra D. desciframos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ la letra de la carta antigua. (preterite) A. descifré B. descifraste C. descifraron D. descifró
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ el enigma del libro. (imperfect) A. descifrabas B. descifraban C. descifrábamos D. descifraba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ el jeroglífico del museo. (future) A. descifraremos B. descifrarás C. descifraré D. descifrará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el código secreto del mensaje si pudiera. (conditional) A. descifraría B. descifrarías C. descifrarían D. descifro
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ la letra de la carta antigua. (present subjunctive) A. descifres B. descifremos C. descifro D. descifre
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ el enigma del libro, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. descifráramos B. descifro C. descifrara D. descifraras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ el jeroglífico del museo. (present perfect) A. han descifrado B. hemos descifrado C. he descifrado D. has descifrado
Complete the command: ¡___ el código secreto del mensaje! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. descifra B. descifre C. descifremos D. descifrad
Which is the gerund of descifrar, used with estar for the progressive? A. descifrado B. descifro C. descifré D. descifrando
Answer key
- descifro — The first-person present of descifrar is descifro. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- descifró — The third-person preterite of descifrar is descifró, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- descifrábamos — The nosotros imperfect of descifrar is descifrábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- descifrarás — The second-person future of descifrar is descifrarás.
- descifraría — The first-person conditional of descifrar is descifraría, the form for what would happen.
- descifre — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of descifrar is descifre.
- descifrara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of descifrar is descifrara.
- hemos descifrado — The nosotros present perfect of descifrar is hemos descifrado: hemos + descifrado.
- descifra — The affirmative tú imperative of descifrar is descifra.
- descifrando — The gerund of descifrar is descifrando: estoy descifrando. The participle descifrado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does descifrar mean in English?
Descifrar means to decipher. It is used in everyday situations such as Descifro el código secreto del mensaje. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is descifrar regular or irregular?
Descifrar 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 descifro in the present and descifré in the preterite.
What is the difference between descifrar and interpretar?
Descifrar means to decipher, while interpretar means to interpret. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use descifrar when you mean to decipher, as in Descifro el código secreto del mensaje, and use interpretar for to interpret. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I decipher” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo descifré la letra de la carta antigua. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo descifraba el enigma del libro. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he descifrado la letra de la carta antigua.
How do I practise descifrar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the descifrar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Descifrar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for descifrar.
- Descifrar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for descifrar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Derivar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with descifrar.
- Denunciar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with descifrar.
- Dialogar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with descifrar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.