Dirigir Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb dirigir means to direct, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Dirigir means to direct or to lead, and it covers directing a film, leading a company, directing traffic and addressing words to someone: dirigir una empresa, dirigir la palabra a alguien. It is a -gir verb: g becomes j before o and a, so yo dirijo and the subjunctive dirija. Like every Spanish verb, dirigir 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 dirijo una empresa grande, and in the preterite you say dirigí la palabra al público. 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: dirigir
- English: to direct
- Verb type: irregular verb
- Ending: -ir
- Gerund: dirigiendo
- Past participle: dirigido
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + dirigido)
- Pattern to learn: this verb is a -gir verb: g becomes j before o and a, so the present first person is dirijo and the present subjunctive is dirija.
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for dirigir, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Dirigir is a -gir verb: g becomes j before o and a, so yo dirijo and the subjunctive dirija.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for dirigir. 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 | dirijo |
| tú | diriges |
| él/ella/Ud. | dirige |
| nosotros/as | dirigimos |
| vosotros/as | dirigís |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | dirigen |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | dirigí |
| tú | dirigiste |
| él/ella/Ud. | dirigió |
| nosotros/as | dirigimos |
| vosotros/as | dirigisteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | dirigieron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | dirigía |
| tú | dirigías |
| él/ella/Ud. | dirigía |
| nosotros/as | dirigíamos |
| vosotros/as | dirigíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | dirigían |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | dirigiré |
| tú | dirigirás |
| él/ella/Ud. | dirigirá |
| nosotros/as | dirigiremos |
| vosotros/as | dirigiréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | dirigirán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | dirigiría |
| tú | dirigirías |
| él/ella/Ud. | dirigiría |
| nosotros/as | dirigiríamos |
| vosotros/as | dirigiríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | dirigirían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he dirigido |
| tú | has dirigido |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha dirigido |
| nosotros/as | hemos dirigido |
| vosotros/as | habéis dirigido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han dirigido |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había dirigido |
| tú | habías dirigido |
| él/ella/Ud. | había dirigido |
| nosotros/as | habíamos dirigido |
| vosotros/as | habíais dirigido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían dirigido |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré dirigido |
| tú | habrás dirigido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá dirigido |
| nosotros/as | habremos dirigido |
| vosotros/as | habréis dirigido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán dirigido |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría dirigido |
| tú | habrías dirigido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría dirigido |
| nosotros/as | habríamos dirigido |
| vosotros/as | habríais dirigido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían dirigido |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | dirija |
| tú | dirijas |
| él/ella/Ud. | dirija |
| nosotros/as | dirijamos |
| vosotros/as | dirigáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | dirijan |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | dirigiera |
| tú | dirigieras |
| él/ella/Ud. | dirigiera |
| nosotros/as | dirigiéramos |
| vosotros/as | dirigierais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | dirigieran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | dirige |
| él/ella/Ud. | dirija |
| nosotros/as | dirijamos |
| vosotros/as | dirigid |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | dirijan |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | dirijas |
| él/ella/Ud. | dirija |
| nosotros/as | dirijamos |
| vosotros/as | dirigáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | dirijan |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | dirigiendo | with estar for the progressive: estoy dirigiendo |
| Past participle | dirigido | with haber for the perfect tenses: he dirigido |
How to use each tense
Present indicative
Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. Note the pattern here: this verb is a -gir verb: g becomes j before o and a, so the present first person is dirijo and the present subjunctive is dirija. For dirigir, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Dirijo una empresa grande. 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. Note the spelling change here: this verb is a -gir verb: g becomes j before o and a, so the present first person is dirijo and the present subjunctive is dirija. For dirigir, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, dirigí una película de acción. 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 dirigir, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, dirigía la palabra al público. 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 dirigir, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, dirigiré el tráfico en la plaza. 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 dirigir, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Dirigiría una empresa grande 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 dirigir, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he dirigido una película de acción. 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 dirigir, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había dirigido la palabra al público 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 dirigir, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré dirigido el tráfico en la plaza. 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 dirigir, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría dirigido una empresa grande 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. Note the spelling change here: this verb is a -gir verb: g becomes j before o and a, so the present first person is dirijo and the present subjunctive is dirija. For dirigir, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él dirija una película de acción. 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 dirigir, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él dirigiera la palabra al público, 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. Note the spelling change here: this verb is a -gir verb: g becomes j before o and a, so the present first person is dirijo and the present subjunctive is dirija. For dirigir, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Dirige el tráfico en la plaza! 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. Note the spelling change here: this verb is a -gir verb: g becomes j before o and a, so the present first person is dirijo and the present subjunctive is dirija. For dirigir, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No dirijas una empresa grande. 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 dirigir, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Dirijo una empresa grande. — I direct a big company.
- Dirige una película de acción. — He/she directs an action film.
- Ayer, dirigí la palabra al público. — Yesterday, I directed words to the audience.
- Antes, nosotros dirigíamos el tráfico en la plaza. — Before, we used to direct traffic in the square.
- Mañana, tú dirigirás una empresa grande. — Tomorrow, you will direct a big company.
- Yo dirigiría una película de acción si tuviera más tiempo. — I would direct an action film if I had more time.
- Él ha dirigido la palabra al público. — He has directed words to the audience.
- Espero que él dirija el tráfico en la plaza. — I hope he directs traffic in the square.
- Yo ya había dirigido una empresa grande antes de salir. — I had already directed a big company before leaving.
- Ellos dirigían una película de acción cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to direct an action film when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo dirige una empresa grande. — Right: Yo dirijo una empresa grande. — The person matters: dirige is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is dirijo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Yo dirigo una película de acción. — Right: Yo dirijo una película de acción. — Dirigir is a -gir verb: g becomes j before o and a, so the present first person is dirijo and the present subjunctive is dirija. The form dirijo follows that pattern, not the plain stem plus -o.
- Wrong: Treating dirigir and presidir as identical in every context. — Right: Dirigir means to direct, while presidir means to preside over. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: dirigir fits sentences such as Dirijo una empresa grande, while presidir belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy dirigido una película de acción. — Right: Yo he dirigido una película de acción. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he dirigido, has dirigido, ha dirigido. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo dirigí la palabra al público todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo dirigía la palabra al público todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (dirigía), not the preterite. The preterite (dirigí) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on dirigir. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ una empresa grande. (present tense) A. dirijo B. diriges C. dirige D. dirigimos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ una película de acción. (preterite) A. dirigí B. dirigiste C. dirigimos D. dirigió
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ la palabra al público. (imperfect) A. dirigías B. dirijo C. dirigíamos D. dirigía
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ el tráfico en la plaza. (future) A. dirigiremos B. dirigirás C. dirigiré D. dirigirá
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ una empresa grande si pudiera. (conditional) A. dirigiría B. dirigirías C. dirigiríamos D. dirijo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ una película de acción. (present subjunctive) A. dirijas B. dirijamos C. dirijo D. dirija
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ la palabra al público, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. dirigiéramos B. dirijo C. dirigiera D. dirigieras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ el tráfico en la plaza. (present perfect) A. ha dirigido B. hemos dirigido C. he dirigido D. has dirigido
Complete the command: ¡___ una empresa grande! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. dirige B. dirija C. dirijamos D. dirigid
Which is the gerund of dirigir, used with estar for the progressive? A. dirigido B. dirijo C. dirigí D. dirigiendo
Answer key
- dirijo — The yo present tense of dirigir is dirijo.
- dirigió — The él/ella/Ud. preterite of dirigir is dirigió.
- dirigíamos — The nosotros/as imperfect of dirigir is dirigíamos.
- dirigirás — The tú future of dirigir is dirigirás.
- dirigiría — The yo conditional of dirigir is dirigiría.
- dirija — The él/ella/Ud. present subjunctive of dirigir is dirija.
- dirigiera — The yo imperfect subjunctive, -ra form of dirigir is dirigiera.
- hemos dirigido — The nosotros/as present perfect of dirigir is hemos dirigido.
- dirige — The affirmative tú imperative of dirigir is dirige.
- dirigiendo — The gerund of dirigir is dirigiendo: estoy dirigiendo. The participle dirigido is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does dirigir mean in English?
Dirigir means to direct. It is used in everyday situations such as Dirijo una empresa grande. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is dirigir regular or irregular?
Dirigir is a spelling-change verb: it is a -gir verb: g becomes j before o and a, so the present first person is dirijo and the present subjunctive is dirija. The endings are regular, so once you know the pattern you can produce every form on this page, including dirijo in the present and dirigí in the preterite.
What is the difference between dirigir and presidir?
Dirigir means to direct, while presidir means to preside over. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use dirigir when you mean to direct, as in Dirijo una empresa grande, and use presidir for to preside over. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I direct” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo dirigí una película de acción. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo dirigía la palabra al público. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he dirigido una película de acción.
How do I practise dirigir?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the dirigir examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Dirigir in the present tense — the full present-tense table for dirigir.
- Dirigir examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for dirigir.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Complete list of Spanish irregular verbs — where this verb's pattern is listed.
- Difundir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with dirigir.
- Disminuir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with dirigir.
- Diferir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with dirigir.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.