Introduction

Despilfarrar means “to squander”, and this page covers exactly one thing: despilfarrar 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 despilfarrar, 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 despilfarrar in the present. Despilfarrar in the present describes a habit, a fact or something happening right now. For example: “Yo despilfarro el dinero” — "I squander the money". Everything on this page uses the forms of despilfarrar exactly as they are conjugated in the present, so you can trust every form you see here.

Despilfarrar in the Present Tense — full table

Person Form
yo despilfarro
tú despilfarras
él/ella/Ud. despilfarra
nosotros/as despilfarramos
vosotros/as despilfarráis
ellos/ellas/Uds. despilfarran

Gerund: despilfarrando · Past participle: despilfarrado

The gerund is despilfarrando, which you use with estar to say what is happening right now: “Estoy despilfarrando” means the action of despilfarrar is in progress at this very moment. The past participle is despilfarrado, which you use with haber in the perfect tenses: “he despilfarrado” 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 despilfarrar is used.

How the present of despilfarrar is formed

Despilfarrar is a regular -ar verb in the present. Take the stem despilfarr and add the present endings for -ar verbs: -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an, giving despilfarro, despilfarras, despilfarra, despilfarramos, despilfarráis, despilfarran. Watch the accents: the vosotros form, despilfarráis, carries an accent on the á, é or í. The present of despilfarrar is fully regular, but two details deserve attention. First, the accents: the vosotros form despilfarráis carries a written accent. Second, the yo form despilfarro is the form the present subjunctive is built from, so learn it well — it unlocks the subjunctive too.

When to use the present of despilfarrar

The present is not a single-purpose tense. Below are the five situations where you will use despilfarrar 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, despilfarrar goes in the present. Example: “Yo despilfarro su fortuna” — "I squander his fortune".

2. General facts

Use the present for things that are true in general, not just today. A fact about despilfarrar does not need a time word at all. Example: “Él despilfarra en tonterías” — "He squanders on silly things".

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 despilfarro can mean both "I squander" and "I am squandering". Example: “Yo despilfarro el dinero” — "I squander the money".

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 despilfarramos su fortuna” — "We squander his fortune".

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 despilfarrar just as it does with any other verb. Example: “Él despilfarra en tonterías” — "He squanders on silly things".

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 despilfarro el dinero” — "I squander the money".

  • Preterite: “Yo despilfarré el dinero” — "I squandered the money".

  • 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 despilfarra su fortuna” — "He squanders his fortune".

  • Preterite: “Él despilfarró su fortuna” — "He squandered his fortune".

  • 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 despilfarramos en tonterías” — "We squander on silly things".

  • Preterite: “Nosotros despilfarramos en tonterías” — "We squandered on silly things".

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

Example sentences: despilfarrar 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 despilfarro su fortuna” — "I squander his fortune"

  2. “Tú despilfarras en tonterías” — "You squander on silly things"

  3. “Él despilfarra el dinero” — "He squanders the money"

  4. “Nosotros despilfarramos su fortuna” — "We squander his fortune"

  5. “Vosotros despilfarráis en tonterías” — "You squander on silly things"

  6. “Ellos despilfarran el dinero” — "They squander the money"

  7. “Yo despilfarro su fortuna” — "I squander his fortune"

  8. “Él despilfarra en tonterías” — "He squanders on silly things"

Common mistakes with despilfarrar 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 despilfarra el dinero” Right: “Ellos despilfarran el dinero” Why: Ellos needs the ellos form despilfarran. The singular despilfarra belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

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

  • Wrong: “Yo despilfarra el dinero.” Right: “Yo despilfarro el dinero” Why: Yo needs the yo form despilfarro. The él form despilfarra belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

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

Quiz: despilfarrar 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 ___ en tonterías.” (yo form)

A. despilfarráis B. despilfarra C. despilfarramos D. despilfarro

2. Complete the sentence: “Tú ___ el dinero.” (tú form)

A. despilfarras B. despilfarráis C. despilfarra D. despilfarran

3. Complete the sentence: “Él ___ su fortuna.” (él/ella/Ud. form)

A. despilfarráis B. despilfarra C. despilfarran D. despilfarramos

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

A. despilfarras B. despilfarráis C. despilfarra D. despilfarramos

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

A. despilfarra B. despilfarráis C. despilfarro D. despilfarran

6. Complete the sentence: “Ellos ___ su fortuna.” (ellos/ellas/Uds. form)

A. despilfarran B. despilfarras C. despilfarramos D. despilfarra

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 despilfarro B. Todos los días, yo despilfarré

Answer key

  1. despilfarro — The yo present of despilfarrar is despilfarro.
  2. despilfarras — The tú present of despilfarrar is despilfarras.
  3. despilfarra — The él/ella/Ud. present of despilfarrar is despilfarra.
  4. despilfarramos — The nosotros/as present of despilfarrar is despilfarramos.
  5. despilfarráis — The vosotros/as present of despilfarrar is despilfarráis.
  6. despilfarran — The ellos/ellas/Uds. present of despilfarrar is despilfarran.
  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 despilfarro — 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 despilfarrar?

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

How is the present of despilfarrar formed?

Take the stem despilfarr- and add the present endings for -ar verbs (-o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an), giving despilfarro, despilfarras, despilfarra, despilfarramos, despilfarráis, despilfarran.

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

The present (despilfarro) describes a habit or something happening now, while the preterite (despilfarré) 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 despilfarrar in the present?

Say the six forms out loud — despilfarro, despilfarras, despilfarra, despilfarramos, despilfarráis, despilfarran — then use them in the example sentences above, changing the person each time. Then try the despilfarrar examples and quiz page, and the full conjugation of despilfarrar when you want to compare the present with the other tenses.

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