Enrojecer Present Tense in Spanish
enrojecer means "to redden, to blush" in English, and the present tense is the form you use when you talk about what happens regularly, what is generally true, and what is happening now. This page gives you the full present-tense table for enrojecer, explains how the tense is formed for this verb, shows when to use it, contrasts it with the closest tense, and finishes with examples, the mistakes learners actually make, a quiz and answers to the most common questions. A natural example is: Cada día, yo enrojezco de vergüenza en clase. — "Every day, I redden with embarrassment in class." Once you can say that sentence confidently, try changing the person and the complement using the table below.
The present tense of enrojecer: full table
Every person of enrojecer in the present tense. The gerund is enrojeciendo and the past participle is enrojecido.
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | enrojezco |
| tú | enrojeces |
| él/ella/Ud. | enrojece |
| nosotros/as | enrojecemos |
| vosotros/as | enrojecéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | enrojecen |
The gerund of enrojecer is enrojeciendo and the past participle is enrojecido. The gerund is used for the progressive (estoy enrojeciendo), and the participle is used with haber in all perfect tenses (he enrojecido).
How the present tense of enrojecer is formed
The present tense of enrojecer is built from the stem enrojec- plus the regular -er endings: -o, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en. Take the infinitive, remove the -er ending, and add the ending that matches the person: yo enrojezco, tú enrojeces, él enrojece, nosotros enrojecemos, vosotros enrojecéis and ellos enrojecen. Once you know the pattern for one regular -er verb, you can apply it to hundreds of others.
| Person | Ending | Form |
|---|---|---|
| yo | -o | enrojezco |
| tú | -es | enrojeces |
| él/ella/Ud. | -e | enrojece |
| nosotros/as | -emos | enrojecemos |
| vosotros/as | -éis | enrojecéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | -en | enrojecen |
Watch the spelling: the c becomes zc before o and a, so the yo form is enrojezco and the subjunctive forms start with zc, for example enrojezca.
Two more forms belong with this tense. The gerund is enrojeciendo, used for the progressive with estar: estoy enrojeciendo. The past participle is enrojecido, used with haber in all perfect tenses: he enrojecido. Both forms appear constantly, so they are worth memorising on their own.
When to use the present tense with enrojecer
1. Routines and habits
The present tense describes what happens regularly. For example: Cada día, yo enrojezco de vergüenza en clase. — "Every day, I redden with embarrassment in class." The complement in this sentence is about embarrassment in class, which is exactly the kind of situation where you will hear enrojecer in the present tense.
2. Things happening now
The present tense describes what is happening at this moment. For example: Ahora, tú enrojeces por el sol en la playa. — "Now, you redden from the sun on the beach." The complement in this sentence is about the sun on the beach, which is exactly the kind of situation where you will hear enrojecer in the present tense.
3. General truths
The present tense states facts that are generally true, not tied to one moment. For example: Normalmente, él enrojece al recibir el cumplido. — "Normally, he/she reddens on receiving the compliment." The complement in this sentence is about receiving the compliment, which is exactly the kind of situation where you will hear enrojecer in the present tense.
4. Plans and the near future
The present tense is also used for plans that are already fixed, especially with a time expression. Spanish speakers often say the present where English would use a future: the plan is so certain that it feels like a fact. For example: Mañana, nosotros enrojecemos de ira durante la discusión. — "Tomorrow, we redden with anger during the argument." The complement in this sentence is about anger during the argument, which is exactly the kind of situation where you will hear enrojecer in the present tense.
5. Frequent actions
With words such as siempre, a menudo and todos los días, the present tense shows how often something happens. For example: Siempre, ellos enrojecen de vergüenza en clase. — "Always, they redden with embarrassment in class." The complement in this sentence is about embarrassment in class, which is exactly the kind of situation where you will hear enrojecer in the present tense.
Present vs preterite: enrojecer
The closest tense to the present is the preterite, and learners mix them up constantly. The rule is simple: the present describes habits, routines and general truths, while the preterite describes one action that started and finished in the past. The three pairs below show the difference with enrojecer.
Pair 1
- Present (habit): Cada día, yo enrojezco de vergüenza en clase. — "Every day, I redden with embarrassment in class."
- Preterite (one finished action): Ayer, yo enrojecí de vergüenza en clase. — "Yesterday, I reddened with embarrassment in class."
The first sentence describes something that happens regularly. The second describes something that happened once, yesterday, and is now finished. If you can add cada día, use the present; if you can add ayer, use the preterite.
Pair 2
- Present (habit): Cada día, tú enrojeces por el sol en la playa. — "Every day, you redden from the sun on the beach."
- Preterite (one finished action): Ayer, tú enrojeciste por el sol en la playa. — "Yesterday, you reddened from the sun on the beach."
The first sentence describes something that happens regularly. The second describes something that happened once, yesterday, and is now finished. If you can add cada día, use the present; if you can add ayer, use the preterite.
Pair 3
- Present (habit): Cada día, él enrojece al recibir el cumplido. — "Every day, he/she reddens on receiving the compliment."
- Preterite (one finished action): Ayer, él enrojeció al recibir el cumplido. — "Yesterday, he/she reddened on receiving the compliment."
The first sentence describes something that happens regularly. The second describes something that happened once, yesterday, and is now finished. If you can add cada día, use the present; if you can add ayer, use the preterite.
Examples: enrojecer in the present tense
These eight sentences show enrojecer in the present tense with a different person each time. Read them aloud, then try changing the person and the complement to make your own versions.
- Yo enrojezco de vergüenza en clase. — "I redden with embarrassment in class."
- Tú enrojeces por el sol en la playa. — "you redden from the sun on the beach."
- Él enrojece al recibir el cumplido. — "he/she reddens on receiving the compliment."
- Nosotros enrojecemos de ira durante la discusión. — "we redden with anger during the argument."
- Vosotros enrojecéis de vergüenza en clase. — "you (plural) redden with embarrassment in class."
- Ellos enrojecen por el sol en la playa. — "they redden from the sun on the beach."
- Yo enrojezco al recibir el cumplido. — "I redden on receiving the compliment."
- Tú enrojeces de ira durante la discusión. — "you redden with anger during the argument."
Common mistakes with enrojecer in the present tense
Mistake 1: Forgetting the zc spelling change
- Wrong: Yo enrojeco de vergüenza en clase.
- Right: Yo enrojezco de vergüenza en clase.
- Why: In the present tense the c becomes zc before o: the yo form is enrojezco, never enrojeco. The other persons keep the plain c: enrojeces, enrojece.
Mistake 2: Adding a reflexive pronoun that does not belong
- Wrong: Yo me enrojezco de vergüenza en clase.
- Right: Yo enrojezco de vergüenza en clase.
- Why: enrojecer is not reflexive, so there is no pronoun to add. The extra pronoun changes the meaning of the sentence.
Mistake 3: Using the present tense for yesterday
- Wrong: Ayer, yo enrojezco por el sol en la playa.
- Right: Ayer, yo enrojecí por el sol en la playa.
- Why: Ayer means yesterday, so the action is finished and needs the preterite: Ayer, yo enrojecí por el sol en la playa. — "Yesterday, I reddened from the sun on the beach." The present tense is for habits and routines, not for yesterday.
Mistake 4: Using the present tense for a past habit
- Wrong: Antes, yo enrojezco al recibir el cumplido.
- Right: Antes, yo enrojecía al recibir el cumplido.
- Why: Antes means before, in the past, so a past habit needs the imperfect: Antes, yo enrojecía al recibir el cumplido. — "In the past, I used to redden on receiving the compliment." The present tense describes what happens now, not what used to happen.
Mistake 5: Using the él form for nosotros
- Wrong: Nosotros enrojece de vergüenza en clase.
- Right: Nosotros enrojecemos de vergüenza en clase.
- Why: The person and the ending must match: nosotros takes enrojecemos, while enrojece belongs to él and ella. Check the person first, then choose the form.
Quiz: the present tense of enrojecer
Test yourself with eight questions on the present tense of enrojecer. The answers are explained, so read them even when you get a question right.
1. What is the yo form of enrojecer in the present tense?
- (a) enrojeces
- (b) enrojece
- (c) enrojecemos
- (d) enrojezco
Answer: (d) enrojezco. The yo form is enrojezco. The other options are other persons, so check the person before you answer.
2. What is the tú form of enrojecer in the present tense?
- (a) enrojece
- (b) enrojecemos
- (c) enrojeces
- (d) enrojezco
Answer: (c) enrojeces. The tú form is enrojeces. The other options are other persons, so check the person before you answer.
3. What is the él/ella form of enrojecer in the present tense?
- (a) enrojecemos
- (b) enrojece
- (c) enrojezco
- (d) enrojeces
Answer: (b) enrojece. The él/ella form is enrojece. The other options are other persons, so check the person before you answer.
4. What is the nosotros form of enrojecer in the present tense?
- (a) enrojecemos
- (b) enrojezco
- (c) enrojeces
- (d) enrojece
Answer: (a) enrojecemos. The nosotros form is enrojecemos. The other options are other persons, so check the person before you answer.
5. What is the ellos/ellas form of enrojecer in the present tense?
- (a) enrojezco
- (b) enrojeces
- (c) enrojece
- (d) enrojecen
Answer: (d) enrojecen. The ellos/ellas form is enrojecen. The other options are other persons, so check the person before you answer.
6. Complete the sentence: Cada día, yo ___ de vergüenza en clase.
- (a) enrojece
- (b) enrojecemos
- (c) enrojezco
- (d) enrojeces
Answer: (c) enrojezco. The sentence needs the yo form enrojezco (Every day, I redden with embarrassment in class.)
7. What is the gerund of enrojecer?
- (a) enrojezco
- (b) enrojecer
- (c) enrojeciendo
- (d) enrojecido
Answer: (c) enrojeciendo. The gerund is enrojeciendo, used for the progressive: estoy enrojeciendo.
8. Which sentence describes a habit, something you do regularly?
- (a) Mañana, yo enrojeceré por el sol en la playa.
- (b) Cada día, yo enrojezco por el sol en la playa.
- (c) Antes, yo enrojecía por el sol en la playa.
- (d) Ayer, yo enrojecí por el sol en la playa.
Answer: (b) Cada día, yo enrojezco por el sol en la playa.. Cada día, yo enrojezco por el sol en la playa. (Every day, I redden from the sun on the beach.) describes a habit, so it uses the present tense. Ayer, yo enrojecí por el sol en la playa. is a single completed action, and Mañana, yo enrojeceré por el sol en la playa. is in the future.
Frequently asked questions about the present tense of enrojecer
Is enrojecer regular in the present tense?
Almost. enrojecer is a spelling-changing (c → zc before o and a) -er verb, so its endings are regular, but watch the spelling: Watch the spelling: the c becomes zc before o and a, so the yo form is enrojezco and the subjunctive forms start with zc, for example enrojezca.
How do you say 'redden' in a sentence?
Use the present tense with a complement: Cada día, yo enrojezco de vergüenza en clase. — "Every day, I redden with embarrassment in class." Change the person using the table above, and change the complement to talk about your own life.
When do I use the present tense instead of the preterite with enrojecer?
Use the present for habits and routines: Cada día, yo enrojezco por el sol en la playa. — "Every day, I redden from the sun on the beach." Use the preterite for one finished action: Ayer, yo enrojecí por el sol en la playa. — "Yesterday, I reddened from the sun on the beach." If the action happens regularly, choose the present; if it happened once and is finished, choose the preterite.
Can I use the present tense for the future with enrojecer?
Yes, when the plan is already fixed. Mañana, nosotros enrojecemos de ira durante la discusión. — "Tomorrow, we redden with anger during the argument." Spanish often uses the present for a plan that feels certain, where English would use the future. Add a time word such as mañana so the listener knows you mean the future.