Familiarizar Conjugation in Spanish
familiarizar means "to familiarise" in English, and it comes up when people talk about the children with English, the pupils with the computer, his dog with the house and the tourists with the city. This page gives you the complete conjugation of familiarizar 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. familiarizar is a spelling-changing (z → c before e) -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 familiarizo a los niños con el inglés. — "Every day, I familiarise the children with English." Work through the tables, read the notes, then test yourself with the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: familiarizar
- English: to familiarise
- Verb type: spelling-changing (z → c before e) -ar verb
- Gerund: familiarizando
- Past participle: familiarizado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all compound tenses use haber + familiarizado)
- Spelling change: spelling-changing (z → c before e).
Full conjugation table
Every tense of familiarizar with all six persons. The gerund is familiarizando and the past participle is familiarizado.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | familiarizo |
| tú | familiarizas |
| él/ella/Ud. | familiariza |
| nosotros/as | familiarizamos |
| vosotros/as | familiarizáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | familiarizan |
Preterite (past)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | familiaricé |
| tú | familiarizaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | familiarizó |
| nosotros/as | familiarizamos |
| vosotros/as | familiarizasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | familiarizaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | familiarizaba |
| tú | familiarizabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | familiarizaba |
| nosotros/as | familiarizábamos |
| vosotros/as | familiarizabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | familiarizaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | familiarizaré |
| tú | familiarizarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | familiarizará |
| nosotros/as | familiarizaremos |
| vosotros/as | familiarizaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | familiarizarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | familiarizaría |
| tú | familiarizarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | familiarizaría |
| nosotros/as | familiarizaríamos |
| vosotros/as | familiarizaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | familiarizarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he familiarizado |
| tú | has familiarizado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha familiarizado |
| nosotros/as | hemos familiarizado |
| vosotros/as | habéis familiarizado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han familiarizado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había familiarizado |
| tú | habías familiarizado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había familiarizado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos familiarizado |
| vosotros/as | habíais familiarizado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían familiarizado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré familiarizado |
| tú | habrás familiarizado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá familiarizado |
| nosotros/as | habremos familiarizado |
| vosotros/as | habréis familiarizado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán familiarizado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría familiarizado |
| tú | habrías familiarizado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría familiarizado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos familiarizado |
| vosotros/as | habríais familiarizado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían familiarizado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | familiarice |
| tú | familiarices |
| él/ella/Ud. | familiarice |
| nosotros/as | familiaricemos |
| vosotros/as | familiaricéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | familiaricen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | familiarizara |
| tú | familiarizaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | familiarizara |
| nosotros/as | familiarizáramos |
| vosotros/as | familiarizarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | familiarizaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | familiariza |
| él/ella/Ud. | familiarice |
| nosotros/as | familiaricemos |
| vosotros/as | familiarizad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | familiaricen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | familiarices |
| él/ella/Ud. | familiarice |
| nosotros/as | familiaricemos |
| vosotros/as | familiaricéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | familiaricen |
Notes on each tense
A short note for every tense: when it is used, one example, and anything irregular about familiarizar in that tense.
Present indicative
The present indicative of familiarizar is used for routines, habits, general truths and things happening right now. Cada día, yo familiarizo a los niños con el inglés. — "Every day, I familiarise the children with English." For familiarizar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem familiariz- 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 familiarizar is used for one action that started and finished in the past. Ayer, yo familiaricé a los alumnos con el ordenador. — "Yesterday, I familiarised the pupils with the computer." Watch the spelling: the z becomes c before e, so the yo preterite is familiaricé and the subjunctive forms start with c, for example familiarice. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Imperfect
The imperfect of familiarizar is used for an ongoing or repeated action in the past, background description and habits that no longer happen. Antes, yo familiarizaba a su perro con la casa. — "In the past, I used to familiarise his dog with the house." For familiarizar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem familiariz- 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 familiarizar is used for what will happen, plans and predictions. Mañana, nosotros familiarizaremos a los turistas con la ciudad. — "Tomorrow, we will familiarise the tourists with the city." For familiarizar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem familiariz- 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 familiarizar is used for what would happen, hypothetical situations and polite requests. Si pudieras, tú familiarizarías a los niños con el inglés. — "If you could, you would familiarise the children with English." For familiarizar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem familiariz- 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 familiarizar is used for an action completed in the recent past that still matters now, or life experience up to now. Yo he familiarizado a los alumnos con el ordenador. — "I have familiarised the pupils with the computer." For familiarizar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem familiariz- 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 familiarizar is used for an action that had already happened before another past action. Antes de la fiesta, yo había familiarizado a su perro con la casa. — "Before the party, I had familiarised his dog with the house." For familiarizar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem familiariz- 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 familiarizar is used for an action that will be finished by a point in the future. Para mañana, yo habré familiarizado a los turistas con la ciudad. — "By tomorrow, I will have familiarised the tourists with the city." For familiarizar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem familiariz- 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 familiarizar is used for what would have happened if things had been different. Si hubiera podido, yo habría familiarizado a los niños con el inglés. — "If I had been able to, I would have familiarised the children with English." For familiarizar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem familiariz- 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 familiarizar is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and requests after expressions such as espero que. Espero que él familiarice a los alumnos con el ordenador. — "I hope that he/she familiarises the pupils with the computer." Watch the spelling: the z becomes c before e, so the yo preterite is familiaricé and the subjunctive forms start with c, for example familiarice. 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 familiarizar is used for the same subjunctive meanings in the past, and in si clauses about unreal situations. Si él familiarizara a su perro con la casa, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she familiarised his dog with the house, everything would turn out better." For familiarizar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem familiariz- 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 familiarizar is used for orders, instructions and invitations. ¡Familiariza a los turistas con la ciudad! — "Familiarise the tourists with the city!" Watch the spelling: the z becomes c before e, so the yo preterite is familiaricé and the subjunctive forms start with c, for example familiarice. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Imperative (negative)
The imperative (negative) of familiarizar is used for prohibitions and negative orders. No familiarices a los niños con el inglés. — "Do not familiarise the children with English." Watch the spelling: the z becomes c before e, so the yo preterite is familiaricé and the subjunctive forms start with c, for example familiarice. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Examples: familiarizar in real sentences
Ten sentences with familiarizar, 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 familiarizo a los niños con el inglés. — "Every day, I familiarise the children with English." This is the present tense, used for a habit.
- Ayer, yo familiaricé a los alumnos con el ordenador. — "Yesterday, I familiarised the pupils with the computer." This is the preterite, one finished action.
- Antes, yo familiarizaba a su perro con la casa. — "In the past, I used to familiarise his dog with the house." This is the imperfect, a repeated action in the past.
- Mañana, nosotros familiarizaremos a los turistas con la ciudad. — "Tomorrow, we will familiarise the tourists with the city." This is the future tense, a plan for tomorrow.
- Si pudieras, tú familiarizarías a los niños con el inglés. — "If you could, you would familiarise the children with English." This is the conditional, something that would happen.
- Yo he familiarizado a los alumnos con el ordenador. — "I have familiarised the pupils with the computer." This is the present perfect, an action with present relevance.
- Espero que él familiarice a su perro con la casa. — "I hope that he/she familiarises his dog with the house." This is the present subjunctive, after espero que.
- Si él familiarizara a los turistas con la ciudad, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she familiarised the tourists with the city, everything would turn out better." This is the imperfect subjunctive, in a si clause.
- ¡Familiariza a los niños con el inglés! — "Familiarise the children with English!" This is the imperative, a direct order or request.
- Ahora, Yo estoy familiarizando a los alumnos con el ordenador. — "Now, I am familiarising the pupils with the computer." This is the progressive, with estar and the gerund.
Common mistakes with familiarizar
The errors learners actually make with familiarizar, 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 familiarizo a los niños con el inglés.
- Right: Yo familiarizo a los niños con el inglés.
- Why: familiarizar is not reflexive, so there is no pronoun to add. Yo familiarizo a los niños con el inglés. is the correct sentence, and the extra pronoun changes the meaning.
Mistake 2: Using the present tense after espero que
- Wrong: Espero que él familiariza a los alumnos con el ordenador.
- Right: Espero que él familiarice a los alumnos con el ordenador.
- Why: After espero que Spanish needs the subjunctive, and for familiarizar the subjunctive also changes z to c: familiarice, not familiariza.
Mistake 3: Using the present tense for yesterday
- Wrong: Ayer, yo familiarizo a los alumnos con el ordenador.
- Right: Ayer, yo familiaricé a los alumnos con el ordenador.
- 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 familiaricé a los alumnos con el ordenador. — "Yesterday, I familiarised the pupils with the computer."
Mistake 4: Mixing up the gerund and the participle
- Wrong: Estoy familiarizado a su perro con la casa.
- Right: Estoy familiarizando a su perro con la casa.
- Why: After estar you need the gerund familiarizando for the progressive. The participle familiarizado goes with haber in the perfect tenses (he familiarizado), never after estar.
Mistake 5: Using the él form for nosotros
- Wrong: Nosotros familiariza a los niños con el inglés.
- Right: Nosotros familiarizamos a los niños con el inglés.
- Why: The person and the ending must match: nosotros takes familiarizamos, while familiariza belongs to él and ella. Check the person first, then choose the form.
Quiz: familiarizar conjugation
Test yourself with ten questions on familiarizar. The answers are explained, so read them even when you get a question right.
1. What is the yo form of familiarizar in the present tense?
- (a) familiariza
- (b) familiarizamos
- (c) familiarizo
- (d) familiarizas
Answer: (c) familiarizo. The yo form is familiarizo. Check the person before you answer.
2. What is the tú form of familiarizar in the present tense?
- (a) familiarizamos
- (b) familiarizas
- (c) familiarizo
- (d) familiariza
Answer: (b) familiarizas. The tú form is familiarizas. Check the person before you answer.
3. What is the él/ella form of familiarizar in the present tense?
- (a) familiariza
- (b) familiarizo
- (c) familiarizas
- (d) familiarizamos
Answer: (a) familiariza. The él/ella form is familiariza. Check the person before you answer.
4. What is the nosotros form of familiarizar in the present tense?
- (a) familiarizo
- (b) familiarizas
- (c) familiariza
- (d) familiarizamos
Answer: (d) familiarizamos. The nosotros form is familiarizamos. Check the person before you answer.
5. What is the ellos/ellas form of familiarizar in the present tense?
- (a) familiarizas
- (b) familiariza
- (c) familiarizan
- (d) familiarizo
Answer: (c) familiarizan. The ellos/ellas form is familiarizan. Check the person before you answer.
6. What is the gerund of familiarizar?
- (a) familiarizo
- (b) familiarizar
- (c) familiarizando
- (d) familiarizado
Answer: (c) familiarizando. The gerund is familiarizando, used for the progressive: estoy familiarizando.
7. What is the past participle of familiarizar?
- (a) familiarizar
- (b) familiarizado
- (c) familiarizando
- (d) familiaricé
Answer: (b) familiarizado. The past participle is familiarizado, used with haber in all perfect tenses: he familiarizado.
8. Complete the sentence: Cada día, yo ___ a los niños con el inglés.
- (a) familiarizo
- (b) familiarizas
- (c) familiariza
- (d) familiarizamos
Answer: (a) familiarizo. The sentence needs the yo form familiarizo (Every day, I familiarise the children with English.)
9. What is the yo form of familiarizar in the preterite?
- (a) familiarizaste
- (b) familiarizó
- (c) familiarizamos
- (d) familiaricé
Answer: (d) familiaricé. The yo preterite is familiaricé. The preterite describes one finished action.
10. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ a su perro con la casa.
- (a) familiaricéis
- (b) familiarice
- (c) familiarices
- (d) familiaricemos
Answer: (b) familiarice. After espero que Spanish needs the subjunctive, and the él form is familiarice.
Frequently asked questions about familiarizar
Is familiarizar regular?
Almost. familiarizar is a spelling-changing (z → c before e) -ar verb, so its endings are regular but its spelling changes in some forms: Watch the spelling: the z becomes c before e, so the yo preterite is familiaricé and the subjunctive forms start with c, for example familiarice. The rest of the conjugation follows the regular pattern, and the tables above show every form exactly.
What does familiarizar mean, and when do I use it?
familiarizar means "to familiarise" in English. Use it when you talk about the children with English, the pupils with the computer, his dog with the house and the tourists with the city — for example: Yo familiarizo a los niños con el inglés. — "I familiarise the children with English." 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 familiarizo a los niños con el inglés. — "I familiarise the children with English." 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 there a reflexive form of familiarizar?
No. familiarizar is not reflexive, so it is used without a pronoun: Yo familiarizo a los niños con el inglés. — "I familiarise the children with English." Adding me, te or se would change the meaning, so keep the verb plain unless you mean the reflexive partner.
When do I use the present tense instead of the preterite with familiarizar?
Use the present for habits and routines: Yo familiarizo a los niños con el inglés. — "I familiarise the children with English." Use the preterite for one finished action: Ayer, yo familiaricé a los niños con el inglés. — "Yesterday, I familiarised the children with English." If the action happens regularly, choose the present; if it happened once and is finished, choose the preterite.