Distribuir Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb distribuir means to distribute, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Distribuir means to distribute, and it is used for handing out food, money, leaflets and work: distribuir la comida, distribuir el trabajo. It is a -uir verb: yo distribuyo, él distribuye, with y before the vowel endings. Like every Spanish verb, distribuir 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 distribuyo la comida entre los niños, and in the preterite you say distribuí folletos en la calle. 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: distribuir
- English: to distribute
- Verb type: irregular verb
- Ending: -ir
- Gerund: distribuyendo
- Past participle: distribuido
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + distribuido)
- Pattern to learn: this verb is a -uir verb: the stem vowel i becomes y before a vowel ending, so the present is distribuyo and distribuye, and the gerund is distribuyendo.
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for distribuir, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Distribuir is a -uir verb: yo distribuyo, él distribuye, with y before the vowel endings.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for distribuir. 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 | distribuyo |
| tú | distribuyes |
| él/ella/Ud. | distribuye |
| nosotros/as | distribuimos |
| vosotros/as | distribuís |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | distribuyen |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | distribuí |
| tú | distribuiste |
| él/ella/Ud. | distribuyó |
| nosotros/as | distribuimos |
| vosotros/as | distribuisteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | distribuyeron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | distribuía |
| tú | distribuías |
| él/ella/Ud. | distribuía |
| nosotros/as | distribuíamos |
| vosotros/as | distribuíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | distribuían |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | distribuiré |
| tú | distribuirás |
| él/ella/Ud. | distribuirá |
| nosotros/as | distribuiremos |
| vosotros/as | distribuiréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | distribuirán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | distribuiría |
| tú | distribuirías |
| él/ella/Ud. | distribuiría |
| nosotros/as | distribuiríamos |
| vosotros/as | distribuiríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | distribuirían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he distribuido |
| tú | has distribuido |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha distribuido |
| nosotros/as | hemos distribuido |
| vosotros/as | habéis distribuido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han distribuido |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había distribuido |
| tú | habías distribuido |
| él/ella/Ud. | había distribuido |
| nosotros/as | habíamos distribuido |
| vosotros/as | habíais distribuido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían distribuido |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré distribuido |
| tú | habrás distribuido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá distribuido |
| nosotros/as | habremos distribuido |
| vosotros/as | habréis distribuido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán distribuido |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría distribuido |
| tú | habrías distribuido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría distribuido |
| nosotros/as | habríamos distribuido |
| vosotros/as | habríais distribuido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían distribuido |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | distribuya |
| tú | distribuyas |
| él/ella/Ud. | distribuya |
| nosotros/as | distribuyamos |
| vosotros/as | distribuyáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | distribuyan |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | distribuyera |
| tú | distribuyeras |
| él/ella/Ud. | distribuyera |
| nosotros/as | distribuyéramos |
| vosotros/as | distribuyerais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | distribuyeran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | distribuye |
| él/ella/Ud. | distribuya |
| nosotros/as | distribuyamos |
| vosotros/as | distribuid |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | distribuyan |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | distribuyas |
| él/ella/Ud. | distribuya |
| nosotros/as | distribuyamos |
| vosotros/as | distribuyáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | distribuyan |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | distribuyendo | with estar for the progressive: estoy distribuyendo |
| Past participle | distribuido | with haber for the perfect tenses: he distribuido |
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 -uir verb: the stem vowel i becomes y before a vowel ending, so the present is distribuyo and distribuye, and the gerund is distribuyendo. For distribuir, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Distribuyo la comida entre los niños. 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 -uir verb: the stem vowel i becomes y before a vowel ending, so the present is distribuyo and distribuye, and the gerund is distribuyendo. For distribuir, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, distribuí el trabajo en el equipo. 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 distribuir, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, distribuía folletos en la calle. 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 distribuir, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, distribuiré el dinero entre todos. 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 distribuir, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Distribuiría la comida entre los niños 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 distribuir, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he distribuido el trabajo en el equipo. 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 distribuir, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había distribuido folletos en la calle 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 distribuir, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré distribuido el dinero entre todos. 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 distribuir, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría distribuido la comida entre los niños 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 -uir verb: the stem vowel i becomes y before a vowel ending, so the present is distribuyo and distribuye, and the gerund is distribuyendo. For distribuir, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él distribuya el trabajo en el equipo. 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 distribuir, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él distribuyera folletos en la calle, 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 -uir verb: the stem vowel i becomes y before a vowel ending, so the present is distribuyo and distribuye, and the gerund is distribuyendo. For distribuir, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Distribuye el dinero entre todos! 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 -uir verb: the stem vowel i becomes y before a vowel ending, so the present is distribuyo and distribuye, and the gerund is distribuyendo. For distribuir, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No distribuyas la comida entre los niños. 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 distribuir, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Distribuyo la comida entre los niños. — I distribute food among the children.
- Distribuye el trabajo en el equipo. — He/she distributes work in the team.
- Ayer, distribuí folletos en la calle. — Yesterday, I distributed leaflets in the street.
- Antes, nosotros distribuíamos el dinero entre todos. — Before, we used to distribute money among everyone.
- Mañana, tú distribuirás la comida entre los niños. — Tomorrow, you will distribute food among the children.
- Yo distribuiría el trabajo en el equipo si tuviera más tiempo. — I would distribute work in the team if I had more time.
- Él ha distribuido folletos en la calle. — He has distributed leaflets in the street.
- Espero que él distribuya el dinero entre todos. — I hope he distributes money among everyone.
- Yo ya había distribuido la comida entre los niños antes de salir. — I had already distributed food among the children before leaving.
- Ellos distribuían el trabajo en el equipo cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to distribute work in the team when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo distribuye la comida entre los niños. — Right: Yo distribuyo la comida entre los niños. — The person matters: distribuye is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is distribuyo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Yo distribuo el trabajo en el equipo. — Right: Yo distribuyo el trabajo en el equipo. — Distribuir is a -uir verb: the stem vowel i becomes y before a vowel ending, so the present is distribuyo and distribuye, and the gerund is distribuyendo. The form distribuyo follows that pattern, not the plain stem plus -o.
- Wrong: Treating distribuir and repartir as identical in every context. — Right: Distribuir means to distribute, while repartir means to share out. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: distribuir fits sentences such as Distribuyo la comida entre los niños, while repartir belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy distribuido el trabajo en el equipo. — Right: Yo he distribuido el trabajo en el equipo. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he distribuido, has distribuido, ha distribuido. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo distribuí folletos en la calle todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo distribuía folletos en la calle todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (distribuía), not the preterite. The preterite (distribuí) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on distribuir. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la comida entre los niños. (present tense) A. distribuyo B. distribuyes C. distribuye D. distribuimos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ el trabajo en el equipo. (preterite) A. distribuí B. distribuiste C. distribuimos D. distribuyó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ folletos en la calle. (imperfect) A. distribuías B. distribuyo C. distribuíamos D. distribuía
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ el dinero entre todos. (future) A. distribuiremos B. distribuirás C. distribuiré D. distribuirá
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la comida entre los niños si pudiera. (conditional) A. distribuiría B. distribuirías C. distribuiríamos D. distribuyo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ el trabajo en el equipo. (present subjunctive) A. distribuyas B. distribuyamos C. distribuyo D. distribuya
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ folletos en la calle, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. distribuyéramos B. distribuyo C. distribuyera D. distribuyeras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ el dinero entre todos. (present perfect) A. ha distribuido B. hemos distribuido C. he distribuido D. has distribuido
Complete the command: ¡___ la comida entre los niños! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. distribuye B. distribuya C. distribuyamos D. distribuid
Which is the gerund of distribuir, used with estar for the progressive? A. distribuido B. distribuyo C. distribuí D. distribuyendo
Answer key
- distribuyo — The yo present tense of distribuir is distribuyo.
- distribuyó — The él/ella/Ud. preterite of distribuir is distribuyó.
- distribuíamos — The nosotros/as imperfect of distribuir is distribuíamos.
- distribuirás — The tú future of distribuir is distribuirás.
- distribuiría — The yo conditional of distribuir is distribuiría.
- distribuya — The él/ella/Ud. present subjunctive of distribuir is distribuya.
- distribuyera — The yo imperfect subjunctive, -ra form of distribuir is distribuyera.
- hemos distribuido — The nosotros/as present perfect of distribuir is hemos distribuido.
- distribuye — The affirmative tú imperative of distribuir is distribuye.
- distribuyendo — The gerund of distribuir is distribuyendo: estoy distribuyendo. The participle distribuido is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does distribuir mean in English?
Distribuir means to distribute. It is used in everyday situations such as Distribuyo la comida entre los niños. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is distribuir regular or irregular?
Distribuir is a spelling-change verb: it is a -uir verb: the stem vowel i becomes y before a vowel ending, so the present is distribuyo and distribuye, and the gerund is distribuyendo. The endings are regular, so once you know the pattern you can produce every form on this page, including distribuyo in the present and distribuí in the preterite.
What is the difference between distribuir and repartir?
Distribuir means to distribute, while repartir means to share out. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use distribuir when you mean to distribute, as in Distribuyo la comida entre los niños, and use repartir for to share out. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I distribute” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo distribuí el trabajo en el equipo. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo distribuía folletos en la calle. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he distribuido el trabajo en el equipo.
How do I practise distribuir?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the distribuir examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Distribuir in the present tense — the full present-tense table for distribuir.
- Distribuir examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for distribuir.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Complete list of Spanish irregular verbs — where this verb's pattern is listed.
- Distinguir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with distribuir.
- Dividir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with distribuir.
- Disminuir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with distribuir.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.