Frenar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb frenar means to brake, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Frenar means to brake, and it is used for slowing down or stopping a car, a bicycle or a train. It is the opposite of acelerar, and it is fully regular, so the meaning, not the forms, is what needs attention. Like every Spanish verb, frenar 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 freno antes del semáforo en rojo, and in the preterite you say frené con cuidado en la curva. 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: frenar
- English: to brake
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: frenando
- Past participle: frenado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + frenado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for frenar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Frenar is fully regular: frené, frenaba, frenaré. Frenar de repente is to brake suddenly.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for frenar. 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 | freno |
| tú | frenas |
| él/ella/Ud. | frena |
| nosotros/as | frenamos |
| vosotros/as | frenáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | frenan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | frené |
| tú | frenaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | frenó |
| nosotros/as | frenamos |
| vosotros/as | frenasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | frenaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | frenaba |
| tú | frenabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | frenaba |
| nosotros/as | frenábamos |
| vosotros/as | frenabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | frenaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | frenaré |
| tú | frenarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | frenará |
| nosotros/as | frenaremos |
| vosotros/as | frenaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | frenarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | frenaría |
| tú | frenarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | frenaría |
| nosotros/as | frenaríamos |
| vosotros/as | frenaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | frenarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he frenado |
| tú | has frenado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha frenado |
| nosotros/as | hemos frenado |
| vosotros/as | habéis frenado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han frenado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había frenado |
| tú | habías frenado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había frenado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos frenado |
| vosotros/as | habíais frenado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían frenado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré frenado |
| tú | habrás frenado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá frenado |
| nosotros/as | habremos frenado |
| vosotros/as | habréis frenado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán frenado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría frenado |
| tú | habrías frenado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría frenado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos frenado |
| vosotros/as | habríais frenado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían frenado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | frene |
| tú | frenes |
| él/ella/Ud. | frene |
| nosotros/as | frenemos |
| vosotros/as | frenéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | frenen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | frenara |
| tú | frenaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | frenara |
| nosotros/as | frenáramos |
| vosotros/as | frenarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | frenaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | frena |
| él/ella/Ud. | frene |
| nosotros/as | frenemos |
| vosotros/as | frenad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | frenen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | frenes |
| él/ella/Ud. | frene |
| nosotros/as | frenemos |
| vosotros/as | frenéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | frenen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | frenando | with estar for the progressive: estoy frenando |
| Past participle | frenado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he frenado |
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 frenar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Freno antes del semáforo en rojo. 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 frenar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, frené de repente al ver el peligro. 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 frenar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, frenaba con cuidado en la curva. 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 frenar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, frenaré suavemente en la autopista. 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 frenar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Frenaría antes del semáforo en rojo 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 frenar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he frenado de repente al ver el peligro. 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 frenar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había frenado con cuidado en la curva 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 frenar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré frenado suavemente en la autopista. 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 frenar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría frenado antes del semáforo en rojo 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 frenar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él frene de repente al ver el peligro. 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 frenar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él frenara con cuidado en la curva, 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 frenar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Frena suavemente en la autopista! 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 frenar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No frenes antes del semáforo en rojo. 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 frenar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Freno antes del semáforo en rojo. — I brake before the red traffic light.
- Frena de repente al ver el peligro. — He/she brakes suddenly on seeing the danger.
- Ayer, frené con cuidado en la curva. — Yesterday, I braked carefully on the bend.
- Antes, nosotros frenábamos suavemente en la autopista. — Before, we used to brake gently on the motorway.
- Mañana, tú frenarás antes del semáforo en rojo. — Tomorrow, you will brake before the red traffic light.
- Yo frenaría de repente al ver el peligro si tuviera más tiempo. — I would brake suddenly on seeing the danger if I had more time.
- Él ha frenado con cuidado en la curva. — He has braked carefully on the bend.
- Espero que él frene suavemente en la autopista. — I hope he brakes gently on the motorway.
- Yo ya había frenado antes del semáforo en rojo antes de salir. — I had already braked before the red traffic light before leaving.
- Ellos frenaban de repente al ver el peligro cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to brake suddenly on seeing the danger when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo frena antes del semáforo en rojo. — Right: Yo freno antes del semáforo en rojo. — The person matters: frena is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is freno. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Ayer yo freno de repente al ver el peligro. — Right: Ayer yo frené de repente al ver el peligro. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: freno is happening now, while frené is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
- Wrong: Treating frenar and acelerar as identical in every context. — Right: Frenar means to brake, while acelerar means to accelerate. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: frenar fits sentences such as Freno antes del semáforo en rojo, while acelerar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy frenado de repente al ver el peligro. — Right: Yo he frenado de repente al ver el peligro. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he frenado, has frenado, ha frenado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo frené con cuidado en la curva todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo frenaba con cuidado en la curva todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (frenaba), not the preterite. The preterite (frené) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on frenar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ antes del semáforo en rojo. (present tense) A. freno B. frenas C. frena D. frenamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ de repente al ver el peligro. (preterite) A. frené B. frenaste C. frenaron D. frenó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ con cuidado en la curva. (imperfect) A. frenabas B. frenaban C. frenábamos D. frenaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ suavemente en la autopista. (future) A. frenaremos B. frenarás C. frenaré D. frenará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ antes del semáforo en rojo si pudiera. (conditional) A. frenaría B. frenarías C. frenarían D. freno
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ de repente al ver el peligro. (present subjunctive) A. frenes B. frenemos C. freno D. frene
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ con cuidado en la curva, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. frenáramos B. freno C. frenara D. frenaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ suavemente en la autopista. (present perfect) A. han frenado B. hemos frenado C. he frenado D. has frenado
Complete the command: ¡___ antes del semáforo en rojo! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. frena B. frene C. frenemos D. frenad
Which is the gerund of frenar, used with estar for the progressive? A. frenado B. freno C. frené D. frenando
Answer key
- freno — The first-person present of frenar is freno. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- frenó — The third-person preterite of frenar is frenó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- frenábamos — The nosotros imperfect of frenar is frenábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- frenarás — The second-person future of frenar is frenarás.
- frenaría — The first-person conditional of frenar is frenaría, the form for what would happen.
- frene — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of frenar is frene.
- frenara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of frenar is frenara.
- hemos frenado — The nosotros present perfect of frenar is hemos frenado: hemos + frenado.
- frena — The affirmative tú imperative of frenar is frena.
- frenando — The gerund of frenar is frenando: estoy frenando. The participle frenado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does frenar mean in English?
Frenar means to brake. It is used in everyday situations such as Freno antes del semáforo en rojo. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is frenar regular or irregular?
Frenar is a fully regular -ar 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 freno in the present and frené in the preterite.
What is the difference between frenar and acelerar?
Frenar means to brake, while acelerar means to accelerate. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use frenar when you mean to brake, as in Freno antes del semáforo en rojo, and use acelerar for to accelerate. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I brake” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo frené de repente al ver el peligro. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo frenaba con cuidado en la curva. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he frenado de repente al ver el peligro.
How do I practise frenar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the frenar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Frenar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for frenar.
- Frenar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for frenar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Acelerar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with frenar.
- Arrancar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with frenar.
- Doblar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with frenar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.