Domesticar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb domesticar means to domesticate, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Domesticar means to domesticate, to tame a wild animal species over generations so it can live with humans. It is used for dogs, cats, horses and farm animals, and it is a spelling-change verb: c becomes qu before e. Like every Spanish verb, domesticar 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 domestico al perro durante miles de años, and in the preterite you say domestiqué a los animales de la granja. 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: domesticar
- English: to domesticate
- Verb type: irregular verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: domesticando
- Past participle: domesticado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + domesticado)
- Spelling change: Spelling change: c becomes qu before e, so the present subjunctive is domestique and the preterite first person is domestiqué — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes.
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for domesticar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Spelling change: c becomes qu before e, so the preterite first person is domestiqué. In the present tense it is regular: domestico.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for domesticar. 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 | domestico |
| tú | domesticas |
| él/ella/Ud. | domestica |
| nosotros/as | domesticamos |
| vosotros/as | domesticáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | domestican |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | domestiqué |
| tú | domesticaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | domesticó |
| nosotros/as | domesticamos |
| vosotros/as | domesticasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | domesticaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | domesticaba |
| tú | domesticabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | domesticaba |
| nosotros/as | domesticábamos |
| vosotros/as | domesticabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | domesticaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | domesticaré |
| tú | domesticarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | domesticará |
| nosotros/as | domesticaremos |
| vosotros/as | domesticaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | domesticarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | domesticaría |
| tú | domesticarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | domesticaría |
| nosotros/as | domesticaríamos |
| vosotros/as | domesticaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | domesticarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he domesticado |
| tú | has domesticado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha domesticado |
| nosotros/as | hemos domesticado |
| vosotros/as | habéis domesticado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han domesticado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había domesticado |
| tú | habías domesticado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había domesticado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos domesticado |
| vosotros/as | habíais domesticado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían domesticado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré domesticado |
| tú | habrás domesticado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá domesticado |
| nosotros/as | habremos domesticado |
| vosotros/as | habréis domesticado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán domesticado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría domesticado |
| tú | habrías domesticado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría domesticado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos domesticado |
| vosotros/as | habríais domesticado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían domesticado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | domestique |
| tú | domestiques |
| él/ella/Ud. | domestique |
| nosotros/as | domestiquemos |
| vosotros/as | domestiquéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | domestiquen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | domesticara |
| tú | domesticaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | domesticara |
| nosotros/as | domesticáramos |
| vosotros/as | domesticarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | domesticaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | domestica |
| él/ella/Ud. | domestique |
| nosotros/as | domestiquemos |
| vosotros/as | domesticad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | domestiquen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | domestiques |
| él/ella/Ud. | domestique |
| nosotros/as | domestiquemos |
| vosotros/as | domestiquéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | domestiquen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | domesticando | with estar for the progressive: estoy domesticando |
| Past participle | domesticado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he domesticado |
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 domesticar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Domestico al perro durante miles de años. 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: c becomes qu before e, so the present subjunctive is domestique and the preterite first person is domestiqué — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes. For domesticar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, domestiqué al caballo para el trabajo. 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 domesticar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, domesticaba a los animales de la granja. 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 domesticar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, domesticaré al gato para vivir en casa. 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 domesticar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Domesticaría al perro durante miles de años 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 domesticar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he domesticado al caballo para el trabajo. 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 domesticar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había domesticado a los animales de la granja 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 domesticar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré domesticado al gato para vivir en casa. 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 domesticar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría domesticado al perro durante miles de años 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: c becomes qu before e, so the present subjunctive is domestique and the preterite first person is domestiqué — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes. For domesticar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él domestique al caballo para el trabajo. 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 domesticar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él domesticara a los animales de la granja, 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: c becomes qu before e, so the present subjunctive is domestique and the preterite first person is domestiqué — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes. For domesticar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Domestica al gato para vivir en casa! 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: c becomes qu before e, so the present subjunctive is domestique and the preterite first person is domestiqué — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes. For domesticar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No domestiques al perro durante miles de años. 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 domesticar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Domestico al perro durante miles de años. — I domesticate the dog over thousands of years.
- Domestica al caballo para el trabajo. — He/she domesticates the horse for work.
- Ayer, domestiqué a los animales de la granja. — Yesterday, I domesticated the farm animals.
- Antes, nosotros domesticábamos al gato para vivir en casa. — Before, we used to domesticate the cat to live in the house.
- Mañana, tú domesticarás al perro durante miles de años. — Tomorrow, you will domesticate the dog over thousands of years.
- Yo domesticaría al caballo para el trabajo si tuviera más tiempo. — I would domesticate the horse for work if I had more time.
- Él ha domesticado a los animales de la granja. — He has domesticated the farm animals.
- Espero que él domestique al gato para vivir en casa. — I hope he domesticates the cat to live in the house.
- Yo ya había domesticado al perro durante miles de años antes de salir. — I had already domesticated the dog over thousands of years before leaving.
- Ellos domesticaban al caballo para el trabajo cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to domesticate the horse for work when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo domestica al perro durante miles de años. — Right: Yo domestico al perro durante miles de años. — The person matters: domestica is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is domestico. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Espero que yo domestice al caballo para el trabajo. — Right: Espero que yo domestique al caballo para el trabajo. — Spelling change: c becomes qu before e, so the present subjunctive is domestique, never domestice.
- Wrong: Treating domesticar and adiestrar as identical in every context. — Right: Domesticar means to domesticate, while adiestrar means to train an animal. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: domesticar fits sentences such as Domestico al perro durante miles de años, while adiestrar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy domesticado al caballo para el trabajo. — Right: Yo he domesticado al caballo para el trabajo. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he domesticado, has domesticado, ha domesticado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo domestiqué a los animales de la granja todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo domesticaba a los animales de la granja todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (domesticaba), not the preterite. The preterite (domestiqué) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on domesticar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ al perro durante miles de años. (present tense) A. domestico B. domesticas C. domestica D. domesticamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ al caballo para el trabajo. (preterite) A. domestiqué B. domesticaste C. domesticaron D. domesticó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ a los animales de la granja. (imperfect) A. domesticabas B. domesticaban C. domesticábamos D. domesticaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ al gato para vivir en casa. (future) A. domesticaremos B. domesticarás C. domesticaré D. domesticará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ al perro durante miles de años si pudiera. (conditional) A. domesticaría B. domesticarías C. domesticarían D. domestico
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ al caballo para el trabajo. (present subjunctive) A. domestiques B. domestiquemos C. domestico D. domestique
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ a los animales de la granja, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. domesticáramos B. domestico C. domesticara D. domesticaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ al gato para vivir en casa. (present perfect) A. han domesticado B. hemos domesticado C. he domesticado D. has domesticado
Complete the command: ¡___ al perro durante miles de años! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. domestica B. domestique C. domestiquemos D. domesticad
Which is the gerund of domesticar, used with estar for the progressive? A. domesticado B. domestico C. domestiqué D. domesticando
Answer key
- domestico — The first-person present of domesticar is domestico. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- domesticó — The third-person preterite of domesticar is domesticó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- domesticábamos — The nosotros imperfect of domesticar is domesticábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- domesticarás — The second-person future of domesticar is domesticarás.
- domesticaría — The first-person conditional of domesticar is domesticaría, the form for what would happen.
- domestique — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of domesticar is domestique.
- domesticara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of domesticar is domesticara.
- hemos domesticado — The nosotros present perfect of domesticar is hemos domesticado: hemos + domesticado.
- domestica — The affirmative tú imperative of domesticar is domestica.
- domesticando — The gerund of domesticar is domesticando: estoy domesticando. The participle domesticado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does domesticar mean in English?
Domesticar means to domesticate. It is used in everyday situations such as Domestico al perro durante miles de años. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is domesticar regular or irregular?
Domesticar is a spelling-change verb, so it is not fully regular. Spelling change: c becomes qu before e, so the present subjunctive is domestique and the preterite first person is domestiqué — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes. The other tenses follow the regular -ar endings. Learn the changed forms from the tables above rather than applying the regular spelling.
What is the difference between domesticar and adiestrar?
Domesticar means to domesticate, while adiestrar means to train an animal. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use domesticar when you mean to domesticate, as in Domestico al perro durante miles de años, and use adiestrar for to train an animal. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I domesticate” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo domestiqué al caballo para el trabajo. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo domesticaba a los animales de la granja. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he domesticado al caballo para el trabajo.
How do I practise domesticar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the domesticar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Domesticar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for domesticar.
- Domesticar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for domesticar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Complete list of Spanish irregular verbs — where this verb's pattern is listed.
- Adiestrar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with domesticar.
- Balar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with domesticar.
- Abonar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with domesticar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.