Ensuciar Conjugation in Spanish
ensuciar means "to dirty" in English, and it comes up when people talk about his shirt with mud, the kitchen floor, his hands with paint and his clothes in the park. This page gives you the complete conjugation of ensuciar 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. ensuciar 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 ensucio la camisa con barro. — "Every day, I dirty his shirt with mud." Work through the tables, read the notes, then test yourself with the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: ensuciar
- English: to dirty
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Gerund: ensuciando
- Past participle: ensuciado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all compound tenses use haber + ensuciado)
Full conjugation table
Every tense of ensuciar with all six persons. The gerund is ensuciando and the past participle is ensuciado.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | ensucio |
| tú | ensucias |
| él/ella/Ud. | ensucia |
| nosotros/as | ensuciamos |
| vosotros/as | ensuciáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ensucian |
Preterite (past)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | ensucié |
| tú | ensuciaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | ensució |
| nosotros/as | ensuciamos |
| vosotros/as | ensuciasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ensuciaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | ensuciaba |
| tú | ensuciabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | ensuciaba |
| nosotros/as | ensuciábamos |
| vosotros/as | ensuciabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ensuciaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | ensuciaré |
| tú | ensuciarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | ensuciará |
| nosotros/as | ensuciaremos |
| vosotros/as | ensuciaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ensuciarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | ensuciaría |
| tú | ensuciarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | ensuciaría |
| nosotros/as | ensuciaríamos |
| vosotros/as | ensuciaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ensuciarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he ensuciado |
| tú | has ensuciado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha ensuciado |
| nosotros/as | hemos ensuciado |
| vosotros/as | habéis ensuciado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han ensuciado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había ensuciado |
| tú | habías ensuciado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había ensuciado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos ensuciado |
| vosotros/as | habíais ensuciado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían ensuciado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré ensuciado |
| tú | habrás ensuciado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá ensuciado |
| nosotros/as | habremos ensuciado |
| vosotros/as | habréis ensuciado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán ensuciado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría ensuciado |
| tú | habrías ensuciado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría ensuciado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos ensuciado |
| vosotros/as | habríais ensuciado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían ensuciado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | ensucie |
| tú | ensucies |
| él/ella/Ud. | ensucie |
| nosotros/as | ensuciemos |
| vosotros/as | ensuciéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ensucien |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | ensuciara |
| tú | ensuciaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | ensuciara |
| nosotros/as | ensuciáramos |
| vosotros/as | ensuciarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ensuciaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | ensucia |
| él/ella/Ud. | ensucie |
| nosotros/as | ensuciemos |
| vosotros/as | ensuciad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ensucien |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | ensucies |
| él/ella/Ud. | ensucie |
| nosotros/as | ensuciemos |
| vosotros/as | ensuciéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ensucien |
Notes on each tense
A short note for every tense: when it is used, one example, and anything irregular about ensuciar in that tense.
Present indicative
The present indicative of ensuciar is used for routines, habits, general truths and things happening right now. Cada día, yo ensucio la camisa con barro. — "Every day, I dirty his shirt with mud." For ensuciar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem ensuci- 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 ensuciar is used for one action that started and finished in the past. Ayer, yo ensucié el suelo de la cocina. — "Yesterday, I dirtied the kitchen floor." For ensuciar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem ensuci- 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 ensuciar is used for an ongoing or repeated action in the past, background description and habits that no longer happen. Antes, yo ensuciaba las manos con pintura. — "In the past, I used to dirty his hands with paint." For ensuciar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem ensuci- 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 ensuciar is used for what will happen, plans and predictions. Mañana, nosotros ensuciaremos la ropa en el parque. — "Tomorrow, we will dirty his clothes in the park." For ensuciar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem ensuci- 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 ensuciar is used for what would happen, hypothetical situations and polite requests. Si pudieras, tú ensuciarías la camisa con barro. — "If you could, you would dirty his shirt with mud." For ensuciar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem ensuci- 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 ensuciar is used for an action completed in the recent past that still matters now, or life experience up to now. Yo he ensuciado el suelo de la cocina. — "I have dirtied the kitchen floor." For ensuciar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem ensuci- 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 ensuciar is used for an action that had already happened before another past action. Antes de la fiesta, yo había ensuciado las manos con pintura. — "Before the party, I had dirtied his hands with paint." For ensuciar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem ensuci- 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 ensuciar is used for an action that will be finished by a point in the future. Para mañana, yo habré ensuciado la ropa en el parque. — "By tomorrow, I will have dirtied his clothes in the park." For ensuciar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem ensuci- 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 ensuciar is used for what would have happened if things had been different. Si hubiera podido, yo habría ensuciado la camisa con barro. — "If I had been able to, I would have dirtied his shirt with mud." For ensuciar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem ensuci- 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 ensuciar is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and requests after expressions such as espero que. Espero que él ensucie el suelo de la cocina. — "I hope that he/she dirties the kitchen floor." For ensuciar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem ensuci- 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 ensuciar is used for the same subjunctive meanings in the past, and in si clauses about unreal situations. Si él ensuciara las manos con pintura, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she dirtied his hands with paint, everything would turn out better." For ensuciar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem ensuci- 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 ensuciar is used for orders, instructions and invitations. ¡Ensucia la ropa en el parque! — "Dirty his clothes in the park!" For ensuciar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem ensuci- 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 ensuciar is used for prohibitions and negative orders. No ensucies la camisa con barro. — "Do not dirty his shirt with mud." For ensuciar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem ensuci- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Examples: ensuciar in real sentences
Ten sentences with ensuciar, 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 ensucio la camisa con barro. — "Every day, I dirty his shirt with mud." This is the present tense, used for a habit.
- Ayer, yo ensucié el suelo de la cocina. — "Yesterday, I dirtied the kitchen floor." This is the preterite, one finished action.
- Antes, yo ensuciaba las manos con pintura. — "In the past, I used to dirty his hands with paint." This is the imperfect, a repeated action in the past.
- Mañana, nosotros ensuciaremos la ropa en el parque. — "Tomorrow, we will dirty his clothes in the park." This is the future tense, a plan for tomorrow.
- Si pudieras, tú ensuciarías la camisa con barro. — "If you could, you would dirty his shirt with mud." This is the conditional, something that would happen.
- Yo he ensuciado el suelo de la cocina. — "I have dirtied the kitchen floor." This is the present perfect, an action with present relevance.
- Espero que él ensucie las manos con pintura. — "I hope that he/she dirties his hands with paint." This is the present subjunctive, after espero que.
- Si él ensuciara la ropa en el parque, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she dirtied his clothes in the park, everything would turn out better." This is the imperfect subjunctive, in a si clause.
- ¡Ensucia la camisa con barro! — "Dirty his shirt with mud!" This is the imperative, a direct order or request.
- Ahora, Yo estoy ensuciando el suelo de la cocina. — "Now, I am dirtying the kitchen floor." This is the progressive, with estar and the gerund.
Common mistakes with ensuciar
The errors learners actually make with ensuciar, 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 ensucio la camisa con barro.
- Right: Yo ensucio la camisa con barro.
- Why: ensuciar is not reflexive, so there is no pronoun to add. Yo ensucio la camisa con barro. is the correct sentence, and the extra pronoun changes the meaning.
Mistake 2: Dropping the accent on the vosotros form
- Wrong: Vosotros ensuciais la camisa con barro.
- Right: Vosotros ensuciáis la camisa con barro.
- Why: The vosotros form ensuciáis 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 ensucio el suelo de la cocina.
- Right: Ayer, yo ensucié el suelo de la cocina.
- 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 ensucié el suelo de la cocina. — "Yesterday, I dirtied the kitchen floor."
Mistake 4: Mixing up the gerund and the participle
- Wrong: Estoy ensuciado las manos con pintura.
- Right: Estoy ensuciando las manos con pintura.
- Why: After estar you need the gerund ensuciando for the progressive. The participle ensuciado goes with haber in the perfect tenses (he ensuciado), never after estar.
Mistake 5: Confusing ensuciar with ensuciarse
- Wrong: Yo me ensucio la camisa con barro.
- Right: Yo ensucio la camisa con barro.
- Why: ensuciar (to dirty) and ensuciarse are partners, not the same verb. The reflexive partner ensuciarse is used when the action comes back to the subject, while ensuciar is used when the action is done to someone or something else.
Quiz: ensuciar conjugation
Test yourself with ten questions on ensuciar. The answers are explained, so read them even when you get a question right.
1. What is the yo form of ensuciar in the present tense?
- (a) ensucias
- (b) ensucia
- (c) ensuciamos
- (d) ensucio
Answer: (d) ensucio. The yo form is ensucio. Check the person before you answer.
2. What is the tú form of ensuciar in the present tense?
- (a) ensucia
- (b) ensuciamos
- (c) ensucias
- (d) ensucio
Answer: (c) ensucias. The tú form is ensucias. Check the person before you answer.
3. What is the él/ella form of ensuciar in the present tense?
- (a) ensuciamos
- (b) ensucia
- (c) ensucio
- (d) ensucias
Answer: (b) ensucia. The él/ella form is ensucia. Check the person before you answer.
4. What is the nosotros form of ensuciar in the present tense?
- (a) ensuciamos
- (b) ensucio
- (c) ensucias
- (d) ensucia
Answer: (a) ensuciamos. The nosotros form is ensuciamos. Check the person before you answer.
5. What is the ellos/ellas form of ensuciar in the present tense?
- (a) ensucio
- (b) ensucias
- (c) ensucia
- (d) ensucian
Answer: (d) ensucian. The ellos/ellas form is ensucian. Check the person before you answer.
6. What is the gerund of ensuciar?
- (a) ensuciado
- (b) ensucio
- (c) ensuciar
- (d) ensuciando
Answer: (d) ensuciando. The gerund is ensuciando, used for the progressive: estoy ensuciando.
7. What is the past participle of ensuciar?
- (a) ensucié
- (b) ensuciar
- (c) ensuciado
- (d) ensuciando
Answer: (c) ensuciado. The past participle is ensuciado, used with haber in all perfect tenses: he ensuciado.
8. Complete the sentence: Cada día, yo ___ la camisa con barro.
- (a) ensuciamos
- (b) ensucio
- (c) ensucias
- (d) ensucia
Answer: (b) ensucio. The sentence needs the yo form ensucio (Every day, I dirty his shirt with mud.)
9. What is the yo form of ensuciar in the preterite?
- (a) ensucié
- (b) ensuciaste
- (c) ensució
- (d) ensuciamos
Answer: (a) ensucié. The yo preterite is ensucié. The preterite describes one finished action.
10. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ las manos con pintura.
- (a) ensuciemos
- (b) ensuciéis
- (c) ensucie
- (d) ensucies
Answer: (c) ensucie. After espero que Spanish needs the subjunctive, and the él form is ensucie.
Frequently asked questions about ensuciar
Is ensuciar regular?
Yes. ensuciar is a regular -ar verb: ensucio, ensucié, ensuciaba, ensuciaré. There are no spelling changes and no stem changes, so once you know the endings you can conjugate it in every tense.
What does ensuciar mean, and when do I use it?
ensuciar means "to dirty" in English. Use it when you talk about his shirt with mud, the kitchen floor, his hands with paint and his clothes in the park — for example: Yo ensucio la camisa con barro. — "I dirty his shirt with mud." 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 ensucio la camisa con barro. — "I dirty his shirt with mud." 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.
What is the difference between ensuciar and ensuciarse?
ensuciar means "to dirty", while ensuciarse means "to get dirty". The reflexive form is used when the action comes back to the subject, and the plain form is used when the action is done to someone or something else. Compare the two pages side by side to feel the difference.
When do I use the present tense instead of the preterite with ensuciar?
Use the present for habits and routines: Yo ensucio la camisa con barro. — "I dirty his shirt with mud." Use the preterite for one finished action: Ayer, yo ensucié la camisa con barro. — "Yesterday, I dirtied his shirt with mud." If the action happens regularly, choose the present; if it happened once and is finished, choose the preterite.