Entenderse Conjugation in Spanish
entenderse means "to get along, to understand each other" in English, and it comes up when people talk about his brother at home, his neighbours in the village, his boss at work and his friend on the phone. This page gives you the complete conjugation of entenderse 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. entenderse is a Reflexive stem-changing (e → ie) -er 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 me entiendo con su hermano en casa. — "Every day, I get along with his brother at home." Work through the tables, read the notes, then test yourself with the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: entenderse
- English: to get along, to understand each other
- Verb type: Reflexive stem-changing (e → ie) -er verb
- Gerund: entendiendo
- Past participle: entendido
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all compound tenses use haber + entendido)
- Reflexive: yes — always use it with the reflexive pronouns me, te, se, nos, os, se.
- Stem change: e → ie in the present, the present subjunctive and related forms (see the notes below).
Full conjugation table
Every tense of entenderse with all six persons. The gerund is entendiendo and the past participle is entendido.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | entiendo |
| tú | entiendes |
| él/ella/Ud. | entiende |
| nosotros/as | entendemos |
| vosotros/as | entendéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | entienden |
Preterite (past)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | entendí |
| tú | entendiste |
| él/ella/Ud. | entendió |
| nosotros/as | entendimos |
| vosotros/as | entendisteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | entendieron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | entendía |
| tú | entendías |
| él/ella/Ud. | entendía |
| nosotros/as | entendíamos |
| vosotros/as | entendíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | entendían |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | entenderé |
| tú | entenderás |
| él/ella/Ud. | entenderá |
| nosotros/as | entenderemos |
| vosotros/as | entenderéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | entenderán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | entendería |
| tú | entenderías |
| él/ella/Ud. | entendería |
| nosotros/as | entenderíamos |
| vosotros/as | entenderíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | entenderían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he entendido |
| tú | has entendido |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha entendido |
| nosotros/as | hemos entendido |
| vosotros/as | habéis entendido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han entendido |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había entendido |
| tú | habías entendido |
| él/ella/Ud. | había entendido |
| nosotros/as | habíamos entendido |
| vosotros/as | habíais entendido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían entendido |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré entendido |
| tú | habrás entendido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá entendido |
| nosotros/as | habremos entendido |
| vosotros/as | habréis entendido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán entendido |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría entendido |
| tú | habrías entendido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría entendido |
| nosotros/as | habríamos entendido |
| vosotros/as | habríais entendido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían entendido |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | entienda |
| tú | entiendas |
| él/ella/Ud. | entienda |
| nosotros/as | entendamos |
| vosotros/as | entendáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | entiendan |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | entendiera |
| tú | entendieras |
| él/ella/Ud. | entendiera |
| nosotros/as | entendiéramos |
| vosotros/as | entendierais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | entendieran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | entiende |
| él/ella/Ud. | entienda |
| nosotros/as | entendamos |
| vosotros/as | entended |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | entiendan |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | entiendas |
| él/ella/Ud. | entienda |
| nosotros/as | entendamos |
| vosotros/as | entendáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | entiendan |
Notes on each tense
A short note for every tense: when it is used, one example, and anything irregular about entenderse in that tense.
Present indicative
The present indicative of entenderse is used for routines, habits, general truths and things happening right now. Cada día, yo me entiendo con su hermano en casa. — "Every day, I get along with his brother at home." In this tense entenderse is irregular: memorise the forms in the table above — for example, yo entiendo and él entiende. 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 entenderse is used for one action that started and finished in the past. Ayer, yo me entendí con sus vecinos en el pueblo. — "Yesterday, I got along with his neighbours in the village." For entenderse this tense follows the regular -er pattern: the stem entend- 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 entenderse is used for an ongoing or repeated action in the past, background description and habits that no longer happen. Antes, yo me entendía con su jefe en el trabajo. — "In the past, I used to get along with his boss at work." For entenderse this tense follows the regular -er pattern: the stem entend- 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 entenderse is used for what will happen, plans and predictions. Mañana, nosotros nos entenderemos con su amiga por teléfono. — "Tomorrow, we will get along with his friend on the phone." For entenderse this tense follows the regular -er pattern: the stem entend- 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 entenderse is used for what would happen, hypothetical situations and polite requests. Si pudieras, tú te entenderías con su hermano en casa. — "If you could, you would get along with his brother at home." For entenderse this tense follows the regular -er pattern: the stem entend- 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 entenderse is used for an action completed in the recent past that still matters now, or life experience up to now. Yo me he entendido con sus vecinos en el pueblo. — "I have got along with his neighbours in the village." For entenderse this tense follows the regular -er pattern: the stem entend- 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 entenderse is used for an action that had already happened before another past action. Antes de la fiesta, yo me había entendido con su jefe en el trabajo. — "Before the party, I had got along with his boss at work." For entenderse this tense follows the regular -er pattern: the stem entend- 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 entenderse is used for an action that will be finished by a point in the future. Para mañana, yo me habré entendido con su amiga por teléfono. — "By tomorrow, I will have got along with his friend on the phone." For entenderse this tense follows the regular -er pattern: the stem entend- 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 entenderse is used for what would have happened if things had been different. Si hubiera podido, yo me habría entendido con su hermano en casa. — "If I had been able to, I would have got along with his brother at home." For entenderse this tense follows the regular -er pattern: the stem entend- 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 entenderse is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and requests after expressions such as espero que. Espero que él se entienda con sus vecinos en el pueblo. — "I hope that he/she gets along with his neighbours in the village." In this tense entenderse is irregular: memorise the forms in the table above — for example, yo entienda and él entienda. 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 entenderse is used for the same subjunctive meanings in the past, and in si clauses about unreal situations. Si él se entendiera con su jefe en el trabajo, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she got along with his boss at work, everything would turn out better." For entenderse this tense follows the regular -er pattern: the stem entend- 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 entenderse is used for orders, instructions and invitations. ¡Que se entienda con su amiga por teléfono! — "Let him/her get along with his friend on the phone!" In this tense entenderse is irregular: memorise the forms in the table above — for example, yo — and él entienda. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Imperative (negative)
The imperative (negative) of entenderse is used for prohibitions and negative orders. No te entiendas con su hermano en casa. — "Do not get along with his brother at home." In this tense entenderse is irregular: memorise the forms in the table above — for example, yo — and él entienda. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Examples: entenderse in real sentences
Ten sentences with entenderse, 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 me entiendo con su hermano en casa. — "Every day, I get along with his brother at home." This is the present tense, used for a habit.
- Ayer, yo me entendí con sus vecinos en el pueblo. — "Yesterday, I got along with his neighbours in the village." This is the preterite, one finished action.
- Antes, yo me entendía con su jefe en el trabajo. — "In the past, I used to get along with his boss at work." This is the imperfect, a repeated action in the past.
- Mañana, nosotros nos entenderemos con su amiga por teléfono. — "Tomorrow, we will get along with his friend on the phone." This is the future tense, a plan for tomorrow.
- Si pudieras, tú te entenderías con su hermano en casa. — "If you could, you would get along with his brother at home." This is the conditional, something that would happen.
- Yo me he entendido con sus vecinos en el pueblo. — "I have got along with his neighbours in the village." This is the present perfect, an action with present relevance.
- Espero que él se entienda con su jefe en el trabajo. — "I hope that he/she gets along with his boss at work." This is the present subjunctive, after espero que.
- Si él se entendiera con su amiga por teléfono, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she got along with his friend on the phone, everything would turn out better." This is the imperfect subjunctive, in a si clause.
- ¡No te entiendas con su hermano en casa! — "Do not get along with his brother at home!" This is the imperative, a direct order or request.
- Ahora, Yo me estoy entendiendo con sus vecinos en el pueblo. — "Now, I am geting along with his neighbours in the village." This is the progressive, with estar and the gerund.
Common mistakes with entenderse
The errors learners actually make with entenderse, each with the wrong form, the right form, and why it is wrong.
Mistake 1: Forgetting the reflexive pronoun
- Wrong: Yo entiendo con su hermano en casa.
- Right: Yo me entiendo con su hermano en casa.
- Why: entenderse is reflexive, so the pronoun is part of the verb: Yo me entiendo con su hermano en casa.. Without me the sentence is incomplete, and it sounds as if the action happens to someone else.
Mistake 2: Forgetting the stem change
- Wrong: Yo me entendo con su hermano en casa.
- Right: Yo me entiendo con su hermano en casa.
- Why: entenderse changes its stem (e → ie) in the yo, tú, él and ellos forms. The correct yo form is entiendo, never entendo.
Mistake 3: Using the present tense for yesterday
- Wrong: Ayer, yo me entiendo con sus vecinos en el pueblo.
- Right: Ayer, yo me entendí con sus vecinos en el pueblo.
- 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 me entendí con sus vecinos en el pueblo. — "Yesterday, I got along with his neighbours in the village."
Mistake 4: Mixing up the gerund and the participle
- Wrong: Me estoy entendido con su jefe en el trabajo.
- Right: Me estoy entendiendo con su jefe en el trabajo.
- Why: After estar you need the gerund entendiendo for the progressive. The participle entendido goes with haber in the perfect tenses (me he entendido), never after estar.
Mistake 5: Using the él form for nosotros
- Wrong: Nosotros nos entiende con su hermano en casa.
- Right: Nosotros nos entendemos con su hermano en casa.
- Why: The person and the ending must match: nosotros takes entendemos, while entiende belongs to él and ella. Check the person first, then choose the form.
Quiz: entenderse conjugation
Test yourself with ten questions on entenderse. The answers are explained, so read them even when you get a question right.
1. What is the yo form of entenderse in the present tense?
- (a) entendemos
- (b) entiendo
- (c) entiendes
- (d) entiende
Answer: (b) entiendo. The yo form is entiendo. Check the person before you answer.
2. What is the tú form of entenderse in the present tense?
- (a) entiendes
- (b) entiendo
- (c) entiende
- (d) entendemos
Answer: (a) entiendes. The tú form is entiendes. Check the person before you answer.
3. What is the él/ella form of entenderse in the present tense?
- (a) entiendo
- (b) entiendes
- (c) entendemos
- (d) entiende
Answer: (d) entiende. The él/ella form is entiende. Check the person before you answer.
4. What is the nosotros form of entenderse in the present tense?
- (a) entiendes
- (b) entiende
- (c) entendemos
- (d) entiendo
Answer: (c) entendemos. The nosotros form is entendemos. Check the person before you answer.
5. What is the ellos/ellas form of entenderse in the present tense?
- (a) entiende
- (b) entienden
- (c) entiendo
- (d) entiendes
Answer: (b) entienden. The ellos/ellas form is entienden. Check the person before you answer.
6. What is the gerund of entenderse?
- (a) entenderse
- (b) entendiendo
- (c) entendido
- (d) entiendo
Answer: (b) entendiendo. The gerund is entendiendo, used for the progressive: me estoy entendiendo.
7. What is the past participle of entenderse?
- (a) entendido
- (b) entendiendo
- (c) entendí
- (d) entenderse
Answer: (a) entendido. The past participle is entendido, used with haber in all perfect tenses: me he entendido.
8. Complete the sentence: Cada día, yo ___ con su hermano en casa.
- (a) entiendes
- (b) entiende
- (c) entendemos
- (d) entiendo
Answer: (d) entiendo. The sentence needs the yo form entiendo (Every day, I get along with his brother at home.)
9. What is the yo form of entenderse in the preterite?
- (a) entendió
- (b) entendimos
- (c) entendí
- (d) entendiste
Answer: (c) entendí. The yo preterite is entendí. The preterite describes one finished action.
10. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ con su jefe en el trabajo.
- (a) entienda
- (b) entiendas
- (c) entendamos
- (d) entendáis
Answer: (a) entienda. After espero que Spanish needs the subjunctive, and the él form is entienda.
Frequently asked questions about entenderse
Is entenderse regular?
Not quite. entenderse is a stem-changing -er verb (e → ie): the stem changes in the yo, tú, él and ellos forms of the present and the present subjunctive, for example entiendo and entienda, but it stays the same in nosotros and vosotros. All the other tenses follow the regular pattern.
What does entenderse mean, and when do I use it?
entenderse means "to get along, to understand each other" in English. Use it when you talk about his brother at home, his neighbours in the village, his boss at work and his friend on the phone — for example: Yo me entiendo con su hermano en casa. — "I get along with his brother at home." 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 me entiendo con su hermano en casa. — "I get along with his brother at home." 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 entenderse reflexive?
Yes. entenderse is reflexive, so it always travels with a pronoun: me, te, se, nos, os, se. Yo me entiendo con su hermano en casa. — "I get along with his brother at home." If you drop the pronoun, the sentence is incomplete. The pronoun goes before the conjugated verb, and it attaches to the end of the gerund and of affirmative imperatives.
When do I use the present tense instead of the preterite with entenderse?
Use the present for habits and routines: Yo me entiendo con su hermano en casa. — "I get along with his brother at home." Use the preterite for one finished action: Ayer, yo me entendí con su hermano en casa. — "Yesterday, I got along with his brother at home." If the action happens regularly, choose the present; if it happened once and is finished, choose the preterite.