Mamar Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb mamar means to suckle, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Mamar means to suckle, and it is used for a baby feeding from its mother and, in a wider sense, for sucking at the breast. It is fully regular, and it is a gentle, specific verb that appears in parenting and nature contexts. Like every Spanish verb, mamar 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 mamo del pecho de su madre, and in the preterite you say mamé con calma en el sofá. 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: mamar
  • English: to suckle
  • Verb type: regular -ar verb
  • Ending: -ar
  • Gerund: mamando
  • Past participle: mamado
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + mamado)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for mamar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Mamar is fully regular: mamé, mamaba, mamaré. Mamar del pecho is to suckle at the breast.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for mamar. 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 mamo
tú mamas
él/ella/Ud. mama
nosotros/as mamamos
vosotros/as mamáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. maman

Preterite

Person Form
yo mamé
tú mamaste
él/ella/Ud. mamó
nosotros/as mamamos
vosotros/as mamasteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. mamaron

Imperfect

Person Form
yo mamaba
tú mamabas
él/ella/Ud. mamaba
nosotros/as mamábamos
vosotros/as mamabais
ellos/ellas/Uds. mamaban

Future

Person Form
yo mamaré
tú mamarás
él/ella/Ud. mamará
nosotros/as mamaremos
vosotros/as mamaréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. mamarán

Conditional

Person Form
yo mamaría
tú mamarías
él/ella/Ud. mamaría
nosotros/as mamaríamos
vosotros/as mamaríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. mamarían

Present perfect

Person Form
yo he mamado
tú has mamado
él/ella/Ud. ha mamado
nosotros/as hemos mamado
vosotros/as habéis mamado
ellos/ellas/Uds. han mamado

Pluperfect

Person Form
yo había mamado
tú habías mamado
él/ella/Ud. había mamado
nosotros/as habíamos mamado
vosotros/as habíais mamado
ellos/ellas/Uds. habían mamado

Future perfect

Person Form
yo habré mamado
tú habrás mamado
él/ella/Ud. habrá mamado
nosotros/as habremos mamado
vosotros/as habréis mamado
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrán mamado

Conditional perfect

Person Form
yo habría mamado
tú habrías mamado
él/ella/Ud. habría mamado
nosotros/as habríamos mamado
vosotros/as habríais mamado
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrían mamado

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo mame
tú mames
él/ella/Ud. mame
nosotros/as mamemos
vosotros/as maméis
ellos/ellas/Uds. mamen

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo mamara
tú mamaras
él/ella/Ud. mamara
nosotros/as mamáramos
vosotros/as mamarais
ellos/ellas/Uds. mamaran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú mama
él/ella/Ud. mame
nosotros/as mamemos
vosotros/as mamad
ellos/ellas/Uds. mamen

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú mames
él/ella/Ud. mame
nosotros/as mamemos
vosotros/as maméis
ellos/ellas/Uds. mamen

Gerund and past participle

Form Spanish Use
Gerund mamando with estar for the progressive: estoy mamando
Past participle mamado with haber for the perfect tenses: he mamado

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 mamar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Mamo del pecho de su madre. 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 mamar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, mamé cada tres horas de noche. 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 mamar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, mamaba con calma en el sofá. 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 mamar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, mamaré hasta quedarse dormido. 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 mamar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Mamaría del pecho de su madre 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 mamar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he mamado cada tres horas de noche. 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 mamar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había mamado con calma en el sofá 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 mamar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré mamado hasta quedarse dormido. 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 mamar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría mamado del pecho de su madre 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 mamar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él mame cada tres horas de noche. 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 mamar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él mamara con calma en el sofá, 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 mamar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Mama hasta quedarse dormido! 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 mamar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No mames del pecho de su madre. 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 mamar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Mamo del pecho de su madre. — I suckle from his mother's breast.
  2. Mama cada tres horas de noche. — He/she suckles every three hours at night.
  3. Ayer, mamé con calma en el sofá. — Yesterday, I suckled calmly on the sofa.
  4. Antes, nosotros mamábamos hasta quedarse dormido. — Before, we used to suckle until he falls asleep.
  5. Mañana, tú mamarás del pecho de su madre. — Tomorrow, you will suckle from his mother's breast.
  6. Yo mamaría cada tres horas de noche si tuviera más tiempo. — I would suckle every three hours at night if I had more time.
  7. Él ha mamado con calma en el sofá. — He has suckled calmly on the sofa.
  8. Espero que él mame hasta quedarse dormido. — I hope he suckles until he falls asleep.
  9. Yo ya había mamado del pecho de su madre antes de salir. — I had already suckled from his mother's breast before leaving.
  10. Ellos mamaban cada tres horas de noche cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to suckle every three hours at night when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo mama del pecho de su madre. — Right: Yo mamo del pecho de su madre. — The person matters: mama is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is mamo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
  2. Wrong: Ayer yo mamo cada tres horas de noche. — Right: Ayer yo mamé cada tres horas de noche. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: mamo is happening now, while mamé is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
  3. Wrong: Treating mamar and chupar as identical in every context. — Right: Mamar means to suckle, while chupar means to suck. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: mamar fits sentences such as Mamo del pecho de su madre, while chupar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy mamado cada tres horas de noche. — Right: Yo he mamado cada tres horas de noche. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he mamado, has mamado, ha mamado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo mamé con calma en el sofá todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo mamaba con calma en el sofá todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (mamaba), not the preterite. The preterite (mamé) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

Ten questions on mamar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ del pecho de su madre. (present tense) A. mamo B. mamas C. mama D. mamamos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ cada tres horas de noche. (preterite) A. mamé B. mamaste C. mamaron D. mamó

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ con calma en el sofá. (imperfect) A. mamabas B. mamaban C. mamábamos D. mamaba

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ hasta quedarse dormido. (future) A. mamaremos B. mamarás C. mamaré D. mamará

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ del pecho de su madre si pudiera. (conditional) A. mamaría B. mamarías C. mamarían D. mamo

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ cada tres horas de noche. (present subjunctive) A. mames B. mamemos C. mamo D. mame

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ con calma en el sofá, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. mamáramos B. mamo C. mamara D. mamaras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ hasta quedarse dormido. (present perfect) A. han mamado B. hemos mamado C. he mamado D. has mamado

  9. Complete the command: ¡___ del pecho de su madre! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. mama B. mame C. mamemos D. mamad

  10. Which is the gerund of mamar, used with estar for the progressive? A. mamado B. mamo C. mamé D. mamando

Answer key

  1. mamo — The first-person present of mamar is mamo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. mamó — The third-person preterite of mamar is mamó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. mamábamos — The nosotros imperfect of mamar is mamábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. mamarás — The second-person future of mamar is mamarás.
  5. mamaría — The first-person conditional of mamar is mamaría, the form for what would happen.
  6. mame — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of mamar is mame.
  7. mamara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of mamar is mamara.
  8. hemos mamado — The nosotros present perfect of mamar is hemos mamado: hemos + mamado.
  9. mama — The affirmative tú imperative of mamar is mama.
  10. mamando — The gerund of mamar is mamando: estoy mamando. The participle mamado is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does mamar mean in English?

Mamar means to suckle. It is used in everyday situations such as Mamo del pecho de su madre. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is mamar regular or irregular?

Mamar 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 mamo in the present and mamé in the preterite.

What is the difference between mamar and chupar?

Mamar means to suckle, while chupar means to suck. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use mamar when you mean to suckle, as in Mamo del pecho de su madre, and use chupar for to suck. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I suckle” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo mamé cada tres horas de noche. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo mamaba con calma en el sofá. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he mamado cada tres horas de noche.

How do I practise mamar?

Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the mamar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.

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