Deshacer Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb deshacer means to undo, to take apart, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Deshacer means to undo or to take apart, and it covers undoing a knot, unpacking a suitcase, undoing a mistake and taking apart a machine. It follows the pattern of hacer, with the present deshago, the preterite deshice and the irregular participle deshecho. Like every Spanish verb, deshacer 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 deshago la maleta al llegar, and in the preterite you say deshice un error con disculpas. 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: deshacer
  • English: to undo, to take apart
  • Verb type: irregular verb
  • Ending: -er
  • Gerund: deshaciendo
  • Past participle: deshecho
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + deshecho)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for deshacer, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Deshacer follows hacer: the present is deshago, the preterite is deshice, and the participle is deshecho.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for deshacer. 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 deshago
tú deshaces
él/ella/Ud. deshace
nosotros/as deshacemos
vosotros/as deshacéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. deshacen

Preterite

Person Form
yo deshice
tú deshiciste
él/ella/Ud. deshizo
nosotros/as deshicimos
vosotros/as deshicisteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. deshicieron

Imperfect

Person Form
yo deshacía
tú deshacías
él/ella/Ud. deshacía
nosotros/as deshacíamos
vosotros/as deshacíais
ellos/ellas/Uds. deshacían

Future

Person Form
yo desharé
tú desharás
él/ella/Ud. deshará
nosotros/as desharemos
vosotros/as desharéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. desharán

Conditional

Person Form
yo desharía
tú desharías
él/ella/Ud. desharía
nosotros/as desharíamos
vosotros/as desharíais
ellos/ellas/Uds. desharían

Present perfect

Person Form
yo he deshecho
tú has deshecho
él/ella/Ud. ha deshecho
nosotros/as hemos deshecho
vosotros/as habéis deshecho
ellos/ellas/Uds. han deshecho

Pluperfect

Person Form
yo había deshecho
tú habías deshecho
él/ella/Ud. había deshecho
nosotros/as habíamos deshecho
vosotros/as habíais deshecho
ellos/ellas/Uds. habían deshecho

Future perfect

Person Form
yo habré deshecho
tú habrás deshecho
él/ella/Ud. habrá deshecho
nosotros/as habremos deshecho
vosotros/as habréis deshecho
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrán deshecho

Conditional perfect

Person Form
yo habría deshecho
tú habrías deshecho
él/ella/Ud. habría deshecho
nosotros/as habríamos deshecho
vosotros/as habríais deshecho
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrían deshecho

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo deshaga
tú deshagas
él/ella/Ud. deshaga
nosotros/as deshagamos
vosotros/as deshagáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. deshagan

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo deshiciera
tú deshicieras
él/ella/Ud. deshiciera
nosotros/as deshiciéramos
vosotros/as deshicierais
ellos/ellas/Uds. deshicieran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú deshaz
él/ella/Ud. deshaga
nosotros/as deshagamos
vosotros/as deshaced
ellos/ellas/Uds. deshagan

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú deshagas
él/ella/Ud. deshaga
nosotros/as deshagamos
vosotros/as deshagáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. deshagan

Gerund and past participle

Form Spanish Use
Gerund deshaciendo with estar for the progressive: estoy deshaciendo
Past participle deshecho with haber for the perfect tenses: he deshecho

How to use each tense

Present indicative

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of hacer, with a -g- in the present (as in deshago), a -c- stem in the preterite (as in deshice), and an irregular participle (as in deshecho). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For deshacer, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Deshago la maleta al llegar. 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of hacer, with a -g- in the present (as in deshago), a -c- stem in the preterite (as in deshice), and an irregular participle (as in deshecho). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For deshacer, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, deshice el nudo de la cuerda. 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 deshacer, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, deshacía un error con disculpas. 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of hacer, with a -g- in the present (as in deshago), a -c- stem in the preterite (as in deshice), and an irregular participle (as in deshecho). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For deshacer, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, desharé el paquete en la mesa. 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of hacer, with a -g- in the present (as in deshago), a -c- stem in the preterite (as in deshice), and an irregular participle (as in deshecho). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For deshacer, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Desharía la maleta al llegar 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. This tense is irregular for this verb only because the past participle is deshecho, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For deshacer, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he deshecho el nudo de la cuerda. 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. This tense is irregular for this verb only because the past participle is deshecho, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For deshacer, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había deshecho un error con disculpas 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. This tense is irregular for this verb only because the past participle is deshecho, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For deshacer, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré deshecho el paquete en la mesa. 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. This tense is irregular for this verb only because the past participle is deshecho, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For deshacer, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría deshecho la maleta al llegar 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of hacer, with a -g- in the present (as in deshago), a -c- stem in the preterite (as in deshice), and an irregular participle (as in deshecho). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For deshacer, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él deshaga el nudo de la cuerda. 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of hacer, with a -g- in the present (as in deshago), a -c- stem in the preterite (as in deshice), and an irregular participle (as in deshecho). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For deshacer, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él deshiciera un error con disculpas, 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of hacer, with a -g- in the present (as in deshago), a -c- stem in the preterite (as in deshice), and an irregular participle (as in deshecho). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For deshacer, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Deshaz el paquete en la mesa! 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of hacer, with a -g- in the present (as in deshago), a -c- stem in the preterite (as in deshice), and an irregular participle (as in deshecho). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For deshacer, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No deshagas la maleta al llegar. 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 deshacer, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Deshago la maleta al llegar. — I undo the suitcase on arriving.
  2. Deshace el nudo de la cuerda. — He/she undoes the knot in the rope.
  3. Ayer, deshice un error con disculpas. — Yesterday, I undid a mistake with apologies.
  4. Antes, nosotros deshacíamos el paquete en la mesa. — Before, we used to undo the parcel on the table.
  5. Mañana, tú desharás la maleta al llegar. — Tomorrow, you will undo the suitcase on arriving.
  6. Yo desharía el nudo de la cuerda si tuviera más tiempo. — I would undo the knot in the rope if I had more time.
  7. Él ha deshecho un error con disculpas. — He has undone a mistake with apologies.
  8. Espero que él deshaga el paquete en la mesa. — I hope he undoes the parcel on the table.
  9. Yo ya había deshecho la maleta al llegar antes de salir. — I had already undone the suitcase on arriving before leaving.
  10. Ellos deshacían el nudo de la cuerda cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to undo the knot in the rope when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo deshace la maleta al llegar. — Right: Yo deshago la maleta al llegar. — The person matters: deshace is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is deshago. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
  2. Wrong: Ayer yo deshací el nudo de la cuerda. — Right: Ayer yo deshice el nudo de la cuerda. — Deshacer has an irregular preterite: the correct first-person form is deshice, not the regular deshací. Learn the preterite forms in the table as a set.
  3. Wrong: Treating deshacer and rehacer as identical in every context. — Right: Deshacer means to undo, to take apart, while rehacer means to redo. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: deshacer fits sentences such as Deshago la maleta al llegar, while rehacer belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy deshecho el nudo de la cuerda. — Right: Yo he deshecho el nudo de la cuerda. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he deshecho, has deshecho, ha deshecho. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo deshice un error con disculpas todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo deshacía un error con disculpas todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (deshacía), not the preterite. The preterite (deshice) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

Ten questions on deshacer. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la maleta al llegar. (present tense) A. deshago B. deshaces C. deshace D. deshacemos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ el nudo de la cuerda. (preterite) A. deshice B. deshiciste C. deshicieron D. deshizo

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ un error con disculpas. (imperfect) A. deshacías B. deshacían C. deshacíamos D. deshacía

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ el paquete en la mesa. (future) A. desharemos B. desharás C. desharé D. deshará

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la maleta al llegar si pudiera. (conditional) A. desharía B. desharías C. desharían D. deshago

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ el nudo de la cuerda. (present subjunctive) A. deshagas B. deshagamos C. deshago D. deshaga

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ un error con disculpas, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. deshiciéramos B. deshago C. deshiciera D. deshicieras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ el paquete en la mesa. (present perfect) A. han deshecho B. hemos deshecho C. he deshecho D. has deshecho

  9. Complete the command: ¡___ la maleta al llegar! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. deshaz B. deshaga C. deshagamos D. deshaced

  10. Which is the gerund of deshacer, used with estar for the progressive? A. deshecho B. deshago C. deshice D. deshaciendo

Answer key

  1. deshago — The first-person present of deshacer is deshago. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. deshizo — The third-person preterite of deshacer is deshizo, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. deshacíamos — The nosotros imperfect of deshacer is deshacíamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. desharás — The second-person future of deshacer is desharás.
  5. desharía — The first-person conditional of deshacer is desharía, the form for what would happen.
  6. deshaga — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of deshacer is deshaga.
  7. deshiciera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of deshacer is deshiciera.
  8. hemos deshecho — The nosotros present perfect of deshacer is hemos deshecho: hemos + deshecho.
  9. deshaz — The affirmative tú imperative of deshacer is deshaz.
  10. deshaciendo — The gerund of deshacer is deshaciendo: estoy deshaciendo. The participle deshecho is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does deshacer mean in English?

Deshacer means to undo, to take apart. It is used in everyday situations such as Deshago la maleta al llegar. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is deshacer regular or irregular?

Deshacer is irregular in present, preterite, future, conditional, present-subjunctive, imperfect-subjunctive, past-participle, present-perfect, pluperfect, future-perfect, conditional-perfect, imperative-affirmative, imperative-negative. The other tenses follow the regular pattern. Learn the irregular forms from the tables above rather than guessing them from the infinitive.

What is the difference between deshacer and rehacer?

Deshacer means to undo, to take apart, while rehacer means to redo. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use deshacer when you mean to undo, to take apart, as in Deshago la maleta al llegar, and use rehacer for to redo. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I undo” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo deshice el nudo de la cuerda. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo deshacía un error con disculpas. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he deshecho el nudo de la cuerda.

How do I practise deshacer?

Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the deshacer examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.

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