Introduction

Memorizar means “to memorise”, and this page covers exactly one thing: memorizar in the present tense. The present is the tense Spanish speakers reach for when they talk about what happens regularly and what is happening now. On this page you will find the full present table for memorizar, how the tense is formed for this verb, the situations where it is used, how it differs from the preterite, worked examples, the mistakes learners make most often, an eight-question quiz with explained answers, and answers to the questions students ask about memorizar in the present. Memorizar in the present describes a habit, a fact or something happening right now. For example: “Yo memorizo la lección” — "I memorise the lesson". Everything on this page uses the forms of memorizar exactly as they are conjugated in the present, so you can trust every form you see here.

Memorizar in the Present Tense — full table

Person Form
yo memorizo
tú memorizas
él/ella/Ud. memoriza
nosotros/as memorizamos
vosotros/as memorizáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. memorizan

Gerund: memorizando · Past participle: memorizado

The gerund is memorizando, which you use with estar to say what is happening right now: “Estoy memorizando” means the action of memorizar is in progress at this very moment. The past participle is memorizado, which you use with haber in the perfect tenses: “he memorizado” is the present perfect, used for a completed action. Keep both forms in mind as you read the examples below, because the present is only one part of how memorizar is used.

How the present of memorizar is formed

Memorizar is a spelling-changing -ar (z → c before e) verb in the present. Take the stem memoriz and add the present endings for -ar verbs: -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an, giving memorizo, memorizas, memoriza, memorizamos, memorizáis, memorizan. Watch the accents: the vosotros form, memorizáis, carries an accent on the á, é or í. The present of memorizar is regular in its endings, but two details deserve attention. First, the accents: the vosotros form memorizáis carries a written accent. Second, the yo form memorizo is the form the present subjunctive is built from, so learn it well — it unlocks the subjunctive too.

When to use the present of memorizar

The present is not a single-purpose tense. Below are the five situations where you will use memorizar in the present most often. Each one comes with a real example, so read the rule, then say the example out loud.

1. Routines and habits

The present is the tense of what you do regularly. When something happens todos los días, cada semana or los fines de semana, memorizar goes in the present. Example: “Yo memorizo los verbos” — "I memorise the verbs".

2. General facts

Use the present for things that are true in general, not just today. A fact about memorizar does not need a time word at all. Example: “Él memoriza una lista larga” — "He memorises a long list".

3. What is happening now

The present also covers what is happening at this very moment. Spanish often uses the simple present where English would use the -ing form, so memorizo can mean both "I memorise" and "I am memorising". Example: “Yo memorizo la lección” — "I memorise the lesson".

4. Timetables and fixed plans

For a fixed plan or a timetable, Spanish uses the present: the plan is already decided, so the present states it as a fact. This is common with travel, lessons and appointments. Example: “Nosotros memorizamos los verbos” — "We memorise the verbs".

5. Telling a story

Stories are sometimes told in the present to make them feel immediate, even when they happened in the past. This is the historical present, and it works with memorizar just as it does with any other verb. Example: “Él memoriza una lista larga” — "He memorises a long list".

Present Tense vs Preterite: how to choose

The closest tense to the present is the preterite, and choosing between them is one of the first decisions in Spanish. The rule is simple: the present reports what happens regularly or what is happening now, while the preterite reports one finished action in the past. The three pairs below use the same verb, so the only thing that changes is whether the action is a habit or a finished event. Time words help: todos los días and cada semana point to the present, while ayer and la semana pasada point to the preterite.

  • Present Tense: “Yo memorizo la lección” — "I memorise the lesson".

  • Preterite: “Yo memoricé la lección” — "I memorised the lesson".

  • The present sentence describes a habit or something happening now; the preterite sentence reports one finished action in the past. That difference — routine versus finished event — is the whole decision.

  • Present Tense: “Él memoriza los verbos” — "He memorises the verbs".

  • Preterite: “Él memorizó los verbos” — "He memorised the verbs".

  • The present sentence describes a habit or something happening now; the preterite sentence reports one finished action in the past. That difference — routine versus finished event — is the whole decision.

  • Present Tense: “Nosotros memorizamos una lista larga” — "We memorise a long list".

  • Preterite: “Nosotros memorizamos una lista larga” — "We memorised a long list".

  • The two sentences look identical: memorizamos is the same in the present and the preterite. Only the time words around it tell you which tense is meant.

Example sentences: memorizar in the present

Read these eight sentences out loud. They cover all six persons, so by the end you will have seen every form in the table used in a real sentence. Pay attention to the words around the verb — the time expressions, the objects, the other verbs — because those are what make each sentence sound natural.

  1. “Yo memorizo los verbos” — "I memorise the verbs"

  2. “Tú memorizas una lista larga” — "You memorise a long list"

  3. “Él memoriza la lección” — "He memorises the lesson"

  4. “Nosotros memorizamos los verbos” — "We memorise the verbs"

  5. “Vosotros memorizáis una lista larga” — "You memorise a long list"

  6. “Ellos memorizan la lección” — "They memorise the lesson"

  7. “Yo memorizo los verbos” — "I memorise the verbs"

  8. “Él memoriza una lista larga” — "He memorises a long list"

Common mistakes with memorizar in the present

These are the errors learners actually make with this verb in this tense. Each one shows the wrong version, the right version, and why the correction matters.

  • Wrong: “Ellos memoriza la lección” Right: “Ellos memorizan la lección” Why: Ellos needs the ellos form memorizan. The singular memoriza belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

  • Wrong: “Todos los días, yo memoricé” Right: “Todos los días, yo memorizo” Why: Todos los días describes a habit, so the present is right. The preterite (memoricé) is for one finished action, not for routines.

  • Wrong: “Yo memoriza la lección.” Right: “Yo memorizo la lección” Why: Yo needs the yo form memorizo. The él form memoriza belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

  • Wrong: “Ayer, yo memorizo” Right: “Ayer, yo memoricé” Why: The present tense cannot describe a finished action yesterday. Ayer forces the preterite, so the form must change to memoricé.

Quiz: memorizar in the present

Choose the correct answer for each question, then check the answer key. Every answer is explained, so a wrong answer still teaches you something.

1. Complete the sentence: “Yo ___ una lista larga.” (yo form)

A. memorizáis B. memorizamos C. memorizo D. memoriza

2. Complete the sentence: “Tú ___ la lección.” (tú form)

A. memorizan B. memorizo C. memorizáis D. memorizas

3. Complete the sentence: “Él ___ los verbos.” (él/ella/Ud. form)

A. memoriza B. memorizamos C. memorizas D. memorizo

4. Complete the sentence: “Nosotros ___ una lista larga.” (nosotros/as form)

A. memorizamos B. memorizan C. memorizáis D. memoriza

5. Complete the sentence: “Vosotros ___ la lección.” (vosotros/as form)

A. memorizamos B. memorizas C. memorizáis D. memorizo

6. Complete the sentence: “Ellos ___ los verbos.” (ellos/ellas/Uds. form)

A. memoriza B. memorizan C. memorizáis D. memorizo

7. Which time expression points to the present tense?

A. todos los días B. ayer C. la semana pasada D. anoche

8. Which sentence is correct?

A. Todos los días, yo memorizo B. Todos los días, yo memoricé

Answer key

  1. memorizo — The yo present of memorizar is memorizo.
  2. memorizas — The tú present of memorizar is memorizas.
  3. memoriza — The él/ella/Ud. present of memorizar is memoriza.
  4. memorizamos — The nosotros/as present of memorizar is memorizamos.
  5. memorizáis — The vosotros/as present of memorizar is memorizáis.
  6. memorizan — The ellos/ellas/Uds. present of memorizar is memorizan.
  7. todos los días — Todos los días describes a habit, so the present is right. Ayer, la semana pasada and anoche all point to the preterite.
  8. Todos los días, yo memorizo — Todos los días is a habit, so the present is correct. The preterite is for one finished action.

Frequently asked questions

When do I use the present of memorizar?

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening now. For example: Yo memorizo la lección. If the action is a habit or happening now, the present is the right choice.

How is the present of memorizar formed?

Take the stem memoriz- and add the present endings for -ar verbs (-o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an), giving memorizo, memorizas, memoriza, memorizamos, memorizáis, memorizan.

What is the difference between the present and the preterite for memorizar?

The present (memorizo) describes a habit or something happening now, while the preterite (memoricé) counts one finished action in the past. Compare the two sentences in the contrast section above: the verb is the same, only the tense changes.

How can I practise memorizar in the present?

Say the six forms out loud — memorizo, memorizas, memoriza, memorizamos, memorizáis, memorizan — then use them in the example sentences above, changing the person each time. Then try the memorizar examples and quiz page, and the full conjugation of memorizar when you want to compare the present with the other tenses.

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