Esconder Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb esconder means to hide, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Esconder means to hide, and it is used for hiding a present in a cupboard, hiding a key under a stone, hiding letters and hiding a secret. It is a regular -er verb, and unlike guardar it always implies that something should not be found. Like every Spanish verb, esconder 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 escondo el regalo en el armario, and in the preterite you say escondí las cartas en el cajón. 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: esconder
- English: to hide
- Verb type: regular -er verb
- Ending: -er
- Gerund: escondiendo
- Past participle: escondido
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + escondido)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for esconder, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Esconder is a regular -er verb: escondí, escondía, esconderé. It hides things so they cannot be found.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for esconder. 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 | escondo |
| tú | escondes |
| él/ella/Ud. | esconde |
| nosotros/as | escondemos |
| vosotros/as | escondéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | esconden |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | escondí |
| tú | escondiste |
| él/ella/Ud. | escondió |
| nosotros/as | escondimos |
| vosotros/as | escondisteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | escondieron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | escondía |
| tú | escondías |
| él/ella/Ud. | escondía |
| nosotros/as | escondíamos |
| vosotros/as | escondíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | escondían |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | esconderé |
| tú | esconderás |
| él/ella/Ud. | esconderá |
| nosotros/as | esconderemos |
| vosotros/as | esconderéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | esconderán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | escondería |
| tú | esconderías |
| él/ella/Ud. | escondería |
| nosotros/as | esconderíamos |
| vosotros/as | esconderíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | esconderían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he escondido |
| tú | has escondido |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha escondido |
| nosotros/as | hemos escondido |
| vosotros/as | habéis escondido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han escondido |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había escondido |
| tú | habías escondido |
| él/ella/Ud. | había escondido |
| nosotros/as | habíamos escondido |
| vosotros/as | habíais escondido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían escondido |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré escondido |
| tú | habrás escondido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá escondido |
| nosotros/as | habremos escondido |
| vosotros/as | habréis escondido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán escondido |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría escondido |
| tú | habrías escondido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría escondido |
| nosotros/as | habríamos escondido |
| vosotros/as | habríais escondido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían escondido |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | esconda |
| tú | escondas |
| él/ella/Ud. | esconda |
| nosotros/as | escondamos |
| vosotros/as | escondáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | escondan |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | escondiera |
| tú | escondieras |
| él/ella/Ud. | escondiera |
| nosotros/as | escondiéramos |
| vosotros/as | escondierais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | escondieran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | esconde |
| él/ella/Ud. | esconda |
| nosotros/as | escondamos |
| vosotros/as | esconded |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | escondan |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | escondas |
| él/ella/Ud. | esconda |
| nosotros/as | escondamos |
| vosotros/as | escondáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | escondan |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | escondiendo | with estar for the progressive: estoy escondiendo |
| Past participle | escondido | with haber for the perfect tenses: he escondido |
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 esconder, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Escondo el regalo en el armario. 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. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For esconder, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, escondí la llave debajo de la piedra. 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 esconder, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, escondía las cartas en el cajón. 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 esconder, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, esconderé un secreto durante años. 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 esconder, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Escondería el regalo en el armario 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 esconder, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he escondido la llave debajo de la piedra. 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 esconder, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había escondido las cartas en el cajón 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 esconder, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré escondido un secreto durante años. 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 esconder, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría escondido el regalo en el armario 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. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For esconder, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él esconda la llave debajo de la piedra. 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 esconder, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él escondiera las cartas en el cajón, 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. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For esconder, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Esconde un secreto durante años! 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. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For esconder, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No escondas el regalo en el armario. 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 esconder, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Escondo el regalo en el armario. — I hide the present in the wardrobe.
- Esconde la llave debajo de la piedra. — He/she hides the key under the stone.
- Ayer, escondí las cartas en el cajón. — Yesterday, I hid the letters in the drawer.
- Antes, nosotros escondíamos un secreto durante años. — Before, we used to hide a secret for years.
- Mañana, tú esconderás el regalo en el armario. — Tomorrow, you will hide the present in the wardrobe.
- Yo escondería la llave debajo de la piedra si tuviera más tiempo. — I would hide the key under the stone if I had more time.
- Él ha escondido las cartas en el cajón. — He has hidden the letters in the drawer.
- Espero que él esconda un secreto durante años. — I hope he hides a secret for years.
- Yo ya había escondido el regalo en el armario antes de salir. — I had already hidden the present in the wardrobe before leaving.
- Ellos escondían la llave debajo de la piedra cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to hide the key under the stone when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo esconde el regalo en el armario. — Right: Yo escondo el regalo en el armario. — The person matters: esconde is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is escondo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Ayer yo escondo la llave debajo de la piedra. — Right: Ayer yo escondí la llave debajo de la piedra. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: escondo is happening now, while escondí is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
- Wrong: Treating esconder and guardar as identical in every context. — Right: Esconder means to hide, while guardar means to keep or put away, without secrecy. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: esconder fits sentences such as Escondo el regalo en el armario, while guardar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy escondido la llave debajo de la piedra. — Right: Yo he escondido la llave debajo de la piedra. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he escondido, has escondido, ha escondido. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo escondí las cartas en el cajón todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo escondía las cartas en el cajón todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (escondía), not the preterite. The preterite (escondí) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on esconder. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el regalo en el armario. (present tense) A. escondo B. escondes C. esconde D. escondemos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ la llave debajo de la piedra. (preterite) A. escondí B. escondiste C. escondieron D. escondió
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ las cartas en el cajón. (imperfect) A. escondías B. escondían C. escondíamos D. escondía
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ un secreto durante años. (future) A. esconderemos B. esconderás C. esconderé D. esconderá
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el regalo en el armario si pudiera. (conditional) A. escondería B. esconderías C. esconderían D. escondo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ la llave debajo de la piedra. (present subjunctive) A. escondas B. escondamos C. escondo D. esconda
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ las cartas en el cajón, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. escondiéramos B. escondo C. escondiera D. escondieras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ un secreto durante años. (present perfect) A. han escondido B. hemos escondido C. he escondido D. has escondido
Complete the command: ¡___ el regalo en el armario! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. esconde B. esconda C. escondamos D. esconded
Which is the gerund of esconder, used with estar for the progressive? A. escondido B. escondo C. escondí D. escondiendo
Answer key
- escondo — The first-person present of esconder is escondo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- escondió — The third-person preterite of esconder is escondió, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- escondíamos — The nosotros imperfect of esconder is escondíamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- esconderás — The second-person future of esconder is esconderás.
- escondería — The first-person conditional of esconder is escondería, the form for what would happen.
- esconda — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of esconder is esconda.
- escondiera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of esconder is escondiera.
- hemos escondido — The nosotros present perfect of esconder is hemos escondido: hemos + escondido.
- esconde — The affirmative tú imperative of esconder is esconde.
- escondiendo — The gerund of esconder is escondiendo: estoy escondiendo. The participle escondido is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does esconder mean in English?
Esconder means to hide. It is used in everyday situations such as Escondo el regalo en el armario. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is esconder regular or irregular?
Esconder is a fully regular -er verb, so every tense follows the standard endings for its class. Once you know the regular pattern, you can produce every form on this page, including escondo in the present and escondí in the preterite.
What is the difference between esconder and guardar?
Esconder means to hide, while guardar means to keep or put away, without secrecy. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use esconder when you mean to hide, as in Escondo el regalo en el armario, and use guardar for to keep or put away, without secrecy. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I hide” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo escondí la llave debajo de la piedra. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo escondía las cartas en el cajón. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he escondido la llave debajo de la piedra.
How do I practise esconder?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the esconder examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Esconder in the present tense — the full present-tense table for esconder.
- Esconder examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for esconder.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Meter conjugation — another -er verb to compare with esconder.
- Encender conjugation — another -er verb to compare with esconder.
- Romper conjugation — another -er verb to compare with esconder.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.