Exprimir Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb exprimir means to squeeze, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Exprimir means to squeeze, and it is used for squeezing oranges, lemons and limes to get the juice. It is fully regular, and it appears in kitchen and breakfast contexts, usually with una naranja or un limón. Like every Spanish verb, exprimir 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 exprimo una naranja para el zumo, and in the preterite you say exprimí las naranjas del desayuno. 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: exprimir
- English: to squeeze
- Verb type: regular -ir verb
- Ending: -ir
- Gerund: exprimiendo
- Past participle: exprimido
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + exprimido)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for exprimir, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Exprimir is fully regular: exprimí, exprimía, exprimiré. Exprimir una naranja is to squeeze an orange.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for exprimir. 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 | exprimo |
| tú | exprimes |
| él/ella/Ud. | exprime |
| nosotros/as | exprimimos |
| vosotros/as | exprimís |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | exprimen |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | exprimí |
| tú | exprimiste |
| él/ella/Ud. | exprimió |
| nosotros/as | exprimimos |
| vosotros/as | exprimisteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | exprimieron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | exprimía |
| tú | exprimías |
| él/ella/Ud. | exprimía |
| nosotros/as | exprimíamos |
| vosotros/as | exprimíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | exprimían |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | exprimiré |
| tú | exprimirás |
| él/ella/Ud. | exprimirá |
| nosotros/as | exprimiremos |
| vosotros/as | exprimiréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | exprimirán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | exprimiría |
| tú | exprimirías |
| él/ella/Ud. | exprimiría |
| nosotros/as | exprimiríamos |
| vosotros/as | exprimiríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | exprimirían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he exprimido |
| tú | has exprimido |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha exprimido |
| nosotros/as | hemos exprimido |
| vosotros/as | habéis exprimido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han exprimido |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había exprimido |
| tú | habías exprimido |
| él/ella/Ud. | había exprimido |
| nosotros/as | habíamos exprimido |
| vosotros/as | habíais exprimido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían exprimido |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré exprimido |
| tú | habrás exprimido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá exprimido |
| nosotros/as | habremos exprimido |
| vosotros/as | habréis exprimido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán exprimido |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría exprimido |
| tú | habrías exprimido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría exprimido |
| nosotros/as | habríamos exprimido |
| vosotros/as | habríais exprimido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían exprimido |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | exprima |
| tú | exprimas |
| él/ella/Ud. | exprima |
| nosotros/as | exprimamos |
| vosotros/as | exprimáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | expriman |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | exprimiera |
| tú | exprimieras |
| él/ella/Ud. | exprimiera |
| nosotros/as | exprimiéramos |
| vosotros/as | exprimierais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | exprimieran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | exprime |
| él/ella/Ud. | exprima |
| nosotros/as | exprimamos |
| vosotros/as | exprimid |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | expriman |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | exprimas |
| él/ella/Ud. | exprima |
| nosotros/as | exprimamos |
| vosotros/as | exprimáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | expriman |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | exprimiendo | with estar for the progressive: estoy exprimiendo |
| Past participle | exprimido | with haber for the perfect tenses: he exprimido |
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 exprimir, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Exprimo una naranja para el zumo. 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 exprimir, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, exprimí un limón en el pescado. 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 exprimir, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, exprimía las naranjas del desayuno. 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 exprimir, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, exprimiré dos limones para la limonada. 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 exprimir, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Exprimiría una naranja para el zumo 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 exprimir, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he exprimido un limón en el pescado. 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 exprimir, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había exprimido las naranjas del desayuno 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 exprimir, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré exprimido dos limones para la limonada. 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 exprimir, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría exprimido una naranja para el zumo 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 exprimir, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él exprima un limón en el pescado. 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 exprimir, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él exprimiera las naranjas del desayuno, 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 exprimir, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Exprime dos limones para la limonada! 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 exprimir, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No exprimas una naranja para el zumo. 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 exprimir, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Exprimo una naranja para el zumo. — I squeeze an orange for the juice.
- Exprime un limón en el pescado. — He/she squeezes a lemon on the fish.
- Ayer, exprimí las naranjas del desayuno. — Yesterday, I squeezed the oranges for breakfast.
- Antes, nosotros exprimíamos dos limones para la limonada. — Before, we used to squeeze two lemons for the lemonade.
- Mañana, tú exprimirás una naranja para el zumo. — Tomorrow, you will squeeze an orange for the juice.
- Yo exprimiría un limón en el pescado si tuviera más tiempo. — I would squeeze a lemon on the fish if I had more time.
- Él ha exprimido las naranjas del desayuno. — He has squeezed the oranges for breakfast.
- Espero que él exprima dos limones para la limonada. — I hope he squeezes two lemons for the lemonade.
- Yo ya había exprimido una naranja para el zumo antes de salir. — I had already squeezed an orange for the juice before leaving.
- Ellos exprimían un limón en el pescado cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to squeeze a lemon on the fish when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo exprime una naranja para el zumo. — Right: Yo exprimo una naranja para el zumo. — The person matters: exprime is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is exprimo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Ayer yo exprimo un limón en el pescado. — Right: Ayer yo exprimí un limón en el pescado. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: exprimo is happening now, while exprimí is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
- Wrong: Treating exprimir and apretar as identical in every context. — Right: Exprimir means to squeeze, while apretar means to squeeze, to press. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: exprimir fits sentences such as Exprimo una naranja para el zumo, while apretar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy exprimido un limón en el pescado. — Right: Yo he exprimido un limón en el pescado. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he exprimido, has exprimido, ha exprimido. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo exprimí las naranjas del desayuno todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo exprimía las naranjas del desayuno todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (exprimía), not the preterite. The preterite (exprimí) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on exprimir. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ una naranja para el zumo. (present tense) A. exprimo B. exprimes C. exprime D. exprimimos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ un limón en el pescado. (preterite) A. exprimí B. exprimiste C. exprimieron D. exprimió
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ las naranjas del desayuno. (imperfect) A. exprimías B. exprimían C. exprimíamos D. exprimía
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ dos limones para la limonada. (future) A. exprimiremos B. exprimirás C. exprimiré D. exprimirá
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ una naranja para el zumo si pudiera. (conditional) A. exprimiría B. exprimirías C. exprimirían D. exprimo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ un limón en el pescado. (present subjunctive) A. exprimas B. exprimamos C. exprimo D. exprima
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ las naranjas del desayuno, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. exprimiéramos B. exprimo C. exprimiera D. exprimieras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ dos limones para la limonada. (present perfect) A. han exprimido B. hemos exprimido C. he exprimido D. has exprimido
Complete the command: ¡___ una naranja para el zumo! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. exprime B. exprima C. exprimamos D. exprimid
Which is the gerund of exprimir, used with estar for the progressive? A. exprimido B. exprimo C. exprimí D. exprimiendo
Answer key
- exprimo — The first-person present of exprimir is exprimo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- exprimió — The third-person preterite of exprimir is exprimió, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- exprimíamos — The nosotros imperfect of exprimir is exprimíamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- exprimirás — The second-person future of exprimir is exprimirás.
- exprimiría — The first-person conditional of exprimir is exprimiría, the form for what would happen.
- exprima — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of exprimir is exprima.
- exprimiera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of exprimir is exprimiera.
- hemos exprimido — The nosotros present perfect of exprimir is hemos exprimido: hemos + exprimido.
- exprime — The affirmative tú imperative of exprimir is exprime.
- exprimiendo — The gerund of exprimir is exprimiendo: estoy exprimiendo. The participle exprimido is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does exprimir mean in English?
Exprimir means to squeeze. It is used in everyday situations such as Exprimo una naranja para el zumo. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is exprimir regular or irregular?
Exprimir is a fully regular -ir 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 exprimo in the present and exprimí in the preterite.
What is the difference between exprimir and apretar?
Exprimir means to squeeze, while apretar means to squeeze, to press. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use exprimir when you mean to squeeze, as in Exprimo una naranja para el zumo, and use apretar for to squeeze, to press. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I squeeze” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo exprimí un limón en el pescado. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo exprimía las naranjas del desayuno. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he exprimido un limón en el pescado.
How do I practise exprimir?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the exprimir examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Exprimir in the present tense — the full present-tense table for exprimir.
- Exprimir examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for exprimir.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Batir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with exprimir.
- Convenir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with exprimir.
- Prevenir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with exprimir.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.