Engrosar Conjugation in Spanish
engrosar means "to thicken" in English, and it comes up when people talk about his voice in the theatre, the army ranks, the book with new chapters and the wall with another layer. This page gives you the complete conjugation of engrosar in every tense and mood — present, preterite, imperfect, future, conditional, the four perfect tenses, both subjunctive tenses and the imperative — with all six persons, plus the gerund and the past participle. Every form below comes from VerbFlow's verified conjugation tables, so you can trust the accents and the spelling changes. engrosar is a regular -ar verb, and the notes under each tense explain exactly where it follows the rules and where it breaks them. To hear it in a real sentence: Cada día, yo engroso la voz en el teatro. — "Every day, I thicken his voice in the theatre." Work through the tables, read the notes, then test yourself with the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: engrosar
- English: to thicken
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Gerund: engrosando
- Past participle: engrosado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all compound tenses use haber + engrosado)
Full conjugation table
Every tense of engrosar with all six persons. The gerund is engrosando and the past participle is engrosado.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | engroso |
| tú | engrosas |
| él/ella/Ud. | engrosa |
| nosotros/as | engrosamos |
| vosotros/as | engrosáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | engrosan |
Preterite (past)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | engrosé |
| tú | engrosaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | engrosó |
| nosotros/as | engrosamos |
| vosotros/as | engrosasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | engrosaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | engrosaba |
| tú | engrosabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | engrosaba |
| nosotros/as | engrosábamos |
| vosotros/as | engrosabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | engrosaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | engrosaré |
| tú | engrosarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | engrosará |
| nosotros/as | engrosaremos |
| vosotros/as | engrosaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | engrosarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | engrosaría |
| tú | engrosarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | engrosaría |
| nosotros/as | engrosaríamos |
| vosotros/as | engrosaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | engrosarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he engrosado |
| tú | has engrosado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha engrosado |
| nosotros/as | hemos engrosado |
| vosotros/as | habéis engrosado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han engrosado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había engrosado |
| tú | habías engrosado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había engrosado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos engrosado |
| vosotros/as | habíais engrosado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían engrosado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré engrosado |
| tú | habrás engrosado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá engrosado |
| nosotros/as | habremos engrosado |
| vosotros/as | habréis engrosado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán engrosado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría engrosado |
| tú | habrías engrosado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría engrosado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos engrosado |
| vosotros/as | habríais engrosado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían engrosado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | engrose |
| tú | engroses |
| él/ella/Ud. | engrose |
| nosotros/as | engrosemos |
| vosotros/as | engroséis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | engrosen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | engrosara |
| tú | engrosaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | engrosara |
| nosotros/as | engrosáramos |
| vosotros/as | engrosarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | engrosaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | engrosa |
| él/ella/Ud. | engrose |
| nosotros/as | engrosemos |
| vosotros/as | engrosad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | engrosen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | engroses |
| él/ella/Ud. | engrose |
| nosotros/as | engrosemos |
| vosotros/as | engroséis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | engrosen |
Notes on each tense
A short note for every tense: when it is used, one example, and anything irregular about engrosar in that tense.
Present indicative
The present indicative of engrosar is used for routines, habits, general truths and things happening right now. Cada día, yo engroso la voz en el teatro. — "Every day, I thicken his voice in the theatre." For engrosar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem engros- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Preterite (past)
The preterite (past) of engrosar is used for one action that started and finished in the past. Ayer, yo engrosé las filas del ejército. — "Yesterday, I thickened the army ranks." For engrosar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem engros- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Imperfect
The imperfect of engrosar is used for an ongoing or repeated action in the past, background description and habits that no longer happen. Antes, yo engrosaba el libro con nuevos capítulos. — "In the past, I used to thicken the book with new chapters." For engrosar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem engros- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Future
The future of engrosar is used for what will happen, plans and predictions. Mañana, nosotros engrosaremos la pared con otra capa. — "Tomorrow, we will thicken the wall with another layer." For engrosar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem engros- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Conditional
The conditional of engrosar is used for what would happen, hypothetical situations and polite requests. Si pudieras, tú engrosarías la voz en el teatro. — "If you could, you would thicken his voice in the theatre." For engrosar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem engros- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Present perfect
The present perfect of engrosar is used for an action completed in the recent past that still matters now, or life experience up to now. Yo he engrosado las filas del ejército. — "I have thickened the army ranks." For engrosar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem engros- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Pluperfect
The pluperfect of engrosar is used for an action that had already happened before another past action. Antes de la fiesta, yo había engrosado el libro con nuevos capítulos. — "Before the party, I had thickened the book with new chapters." For engrosar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem engros- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Future perfect
The future perfect of engrosar is used for an action that will be finished by a point in the future. Para mañana, yo habré engrosado la pared con otra capa. — "By tomorrow, I will have thickened the wall with another layer." For engrosar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem engros- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Conditional perfect
The conditional perfect of engrosar is used for what would have happened if things had been different. Si hubiera podido, yo habría engrosado la voz en el teatro. — "If I had been able to, I would have thickened his voice in the theatre." For engrosar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem engros- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Present subjunctive
The present subjunctive of engrosar is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and requests after expressions such as espero que. Espero que él engrose las filas del ejército. — "I hope that he/she thickens the army ranks." For engrosar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem engros- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
The imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of engrosar is used for the same subjunctive meanings in the past, and in si clauses about unreal situations. Si él engrosara el libro con nuevos capítulos, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she thickened the book with new chapters, everything would turn out better." For engrosar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem engros- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Imperative (affirmative)
The imperative (affirmative) of engrosar is used for orders, instructions and invitations. ¡Engrosa la pared con otra capa! — "Thicken the wall with another layer!" For engrosar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem engros- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Imperative (negative)
The imperative (negative) of engrosar is used for prohibitions and negative orders. No engroses la voz en el teatro. — "Do not thicken his voice in the theatre." For engrosar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem engros- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Examples: engrosar in real sentences
Ten sentences with engrosar, one for each main tense, each with its English translation. Read them aloud, then try changing the person and the complement to make your own versions.
- Cada día, yo engroso la voz en el teatro. — "Every day, I thicken his voice in the theatre." This is the present tense, used for a habit.
- Ayer, yo engrosé las filas del ejército. — "Yesterday, I thickened the army ranks." This is the preterite, one finished action.
- Antes, yo engrosaba el libro con nuevos capítulos. — "In the past, I used to thicken the book with new chapters." This is the imperfect, a repeated action in the past.
- Mañana, nosotros engrosaremos la pared con otra capa. — "Tomorrow, we will thicken the wall with another layer." This is the future tense, a plan for tomorrow.
- Si pudieras, tú engrosarías la voz en el teatro. — "If you could, you would thicken his voice in the theatre." This is the conditional, something that would happen.
- Yo he engrosado las filas del ejército. — "I have thickened the army ranks." This is the present perfect, an action with present relevance.
- Espero que él engrose el libro con nuevos capítulos. — "I hope that he/she thickens the book with new chapters." This is the present subjunctive, after espero que.
- Si él engrosara la pared con otra capa, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she thickened the wall with another layer, everything would turn out better." This is the imperfect subjunctive, in a si clause.
- ¡Engrosa la voz en el teatro! — "Thicken his voice in the theatre!" This is the imperative, a direct order or request.
- Ahora, Yo estoy engrosando las filas del ejército. — "Now, I am thickening the army ranks." This is the progressive, with estar and the gerund.
Common mistakes with engrosar
The errors learners actually make with engrosar, each with the wrong form, the right form, and why it is wrong.
Mistake 1: Adding a reflexive pronoun that does not belong
- Wrong: Yo me engroso la voz en el teatro.
- Right: Yo engroso la voz en el teatro.
- Why: engrosar is not reflexive, so there is no pronoun to add. Yo engroso la voz en el teatro. is the correct sentence, and the extra pronoun changes the meaning.
Mistake 2: Dropping the accent on the vosotros form
- Wrong: Vosotros engrosais la voz en el teatro.
- Right: Vosotros engrosáis la voz en el teatro.
- Why: The vosotros form engrosáis carries a written accent. Without it the word is misspelled, and in writing the accent is part of the form.
Mistake 3: Using the present tense for yesterday
- Wrong: Ayer, yo engroso las filas del ejército.
- Right: Ayer, yo engrosé las filas del ejército.
- Why: Ayer means yesterday, so the action is finished and needs the preterite. The present tense is for habits and routines, not for yesterday: Ayer, yo engrosé las filas del ejército. — "Yesterday, I thickened the army ranks."
Mistake 4: Mixing up the gerund and the participle
- Wrong: Estoy engrosado el libro con nuevos capítulos.
- Right: Estoy engrosando el libro con nuevos capítulos.
- Why: After estar you need the gerund engrosando for the progressive. The participle engrosado goes with haber in the perfect tenses (he engrosado), never after estar.
Mistake 5: Using the él form for nosotros
- Wrong: Nosotros engrosa la voz en el teatro.
- Right: Nosotros engrosamos la voz en el teatro.
- Why: The person and the ending must match: nosotros takes engrosamos, while engrosa belongs to él and ella. Check the person first, then choose the form.
Quiz: engrosar conjugation
Test yourself with ten questions on engrosar. The answers are explained, so read them even when you get a question right.
1. What is the yo form of engrosar in the present tense?
- (a) engrosas
- (b) engrosa
- (c) engrosamos
- (d) engroso
Answer: (d) engroso. The yo form is engroso. Check the person before you answer.
2. What is the tú form of engrosar in the present tense?
- (a) engrosa
- (b) engrosamos
- (c) engrosas
- (d) engroso
Answer: (c) engrosas. The tú form is engrosas. Check the person before you answer.
3. What is the él/ella form of engrosar in the present tense?
- (a) engrosamos
- (b) engrosa
- (c) engroso
- (d) engrosas
Answer: (b) engrosa. The él/ella form is engrosa. Check the person before you answer.
4. What is the nosotros form of engrosar in the present tense?
- (a) engrosamos
- (b) engroso
- (c) engrosas
- (d) engrosa
Answer: (a) engrosamos. The nosotros form is engrosamos. Check the person before you answer.
5. What is the ellos/ellas form of engrosar in the present tense?
- (a) engroso
- (b) engrosas
- (c) engrosa
- (d) engrosan
Answer: (d) engrosan. The ellos/ellas form is engrosan. Check the person before you answer.
6. What is the gerund of engrosar?
- (a) engrosado
- (b) engroso
- (c) engrosar
- (d) engrosando
Answer: (d) engrosando. The gerund is engrosando, used for the progressive: estoy engrosando.
7. What is the past participle of engrosar?
- (a) engrosé
- (b) engrosar
- (c) engrosado
- (d) engrosando
Answer: (c) engrosado. The past participle is engrosado, used with haber in all perfect tenses: he engrosado.
8. Complete the sentence: Cada día, yo ___ la voz en el teatro.
- (a) engrosamos
- (b) engroso
- (c) engrosas
- (d) engrosa
Answer: (b) engroso. The sentence needs the yo form engroso (Every day, I thicken his voice in the theatre.)
9. What is the yo form of engrosar in the preterite?
- (a) engrosé
- (b) engrosaste
- (c) engrosó
- (d) engrosamos
Answer: (a) engrosé. The yo preterite is engrosé. The preterite describes one finished action.
10. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ el libro con nuevos capítulos.
- (a) engrosemos
- (b) engroséis
- (c) engrose
- (d) engroses
Answer: (c) engrose. After espero que Spanish needs the subjunctive, and the él form is engrose.
Frequently asked questions about engrosar
Is engrosar regular?
Yes. engrosar is a regular -ar verb: engroso, engrosé, engrosaba, engrosaré. There are no spelling changes and no stem changes, so once you know the endings you can conjugate it in every tense.
What does engrosar mean, and when do I use it?
engrosar means "to thicken" in English. Use it when you talk about his voice in the theatre, the army ranks, the book with new chapters and the wall with another layer — for example: Yo engroso la voz en el teatro. — "I thicken his voice in the theatre." It is a practical verb for everyday conversation, and it appears in all the tenses on this page.
How do you say it in a real sentence?
A natural sentence is: Yo engroso la voz en el teatro. — "I thicken his voice in the theatre." Change the person using the table above, and change the complement to talk about your own life: the verb stays the same, only the ending changes.
Is there a reflexive form of engrosar?
No. engrosar is not reflexive, so it is used without a pronoun: Yo engroso la voz en el teatro. — "I thicken his voice in the theatre." Adding me, te or se would change the meaning, so keep the verb plain unless you mean the reflexive partner.
When do I use the present tense instead of the preterite with engrosar?
Use the present for habits and routines: Yo engroso la voz en el teatro. — "I thicken his voice in the theatre." Use the preterite for one finished action: Ayer, yo engrosé la voz en el teatro. — "Yesterday, I thickened his voice in the theatre." If the action happens regularly, choose the present; if it happened once and is finished, choose the preterite.