Mugir Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb mugir means to moo, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Mugir means to moo, the sound a cow makes. It is an animal-sound verb used on farms and in the countryside, and it is a spelling-change verb: the stem is muj- before o and a. Like every Spanish verb, mugir 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 mujo en el campo al amanecer, and in the preterite you say mugí toda la mañana en el prado. 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: mugir
  • English: to moo
  • Verb type: irregular verb
  • Ending: -ir
  • Gerund: mugiendo
  • Past participle: mugido
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + mugido)
  • Spelling change: Spelling change: g becomes j before e, so the present subjunctive is muja and the preterite first person is mugí — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes.

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for mugir, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Spelling change: the stem is muj- in the present, so the first person is mujo. Cows mugen; sheep balan.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for mugir. 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 mujo
tú muges
él/ella/Ud. muge
nosotros/as mugimos
vosotros/as mugís
ellos/ellas/Uds. mugen

Preterite

Person Form
yo mugí
tú mugiste
él/ella/Ud. mugió
nosotros/as mugimos
vosotros/as mugisteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. mugieron

Imperfect

Person Form
yo mugía
tú mugías
él/ella/Ud. mugía
nosotros/as mugíamos
vosotros/as mugíais
ellos/ellas/Uds. mugían

Future

Person Form
yo mugiré
tú mugirás
él/ella/Ud. mugirá
nosotros/as mugiremos
vosotros/as mugiréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. mugirán

Conditional

Person Form
yo mugiría
tú mugirías
él/ella/Ud. mugiría
nosotros/as mugiríamos
vosotros/as mugiríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. mugirían

Present perfect

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

Pluperfect

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

Future perfect

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

Conditional perfect

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

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo muja
tú mujas
él/ella/Ud. muja
nosotros/as mujamos
vosotros/as mugáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. mujan

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo mugiera
tú mugieras
él/ella/Ud. mugiera
nosotros/as mugiéramos
vosotros/as mugierais
ellos/ellas/Uds. mugieran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú muge
él/ella/Ud. muja
nosotros/as mujamos
vosotros/as mugid
ellos/ellas/Uds. mujan

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú mujas
él/ella/Ud. muja
nosotros/as mujamos
vosotros/as mugáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. mujan

Gerund and past participle

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

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 mugir, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Mujo en el campo al amanecer. 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. Note the spelling change: g becomes j before e, so the present subjunctive is muja and the preterite first person is mugí — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes. For mugir, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, mugí cuando llega el granjero. 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 mugir, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, mugía toda la mañana en el prado. 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 mugir, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, mugiré en el establo por la noche. 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 mugir, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Mugiría en el campo al amanecer 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 mugir, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he mugido cuando llega el granjero. 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 mugir, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había mugido toda la mañana en el prado 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 mugir, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré mugido en el establo por la noche. 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 mugir, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría mugido en el campo al amanecer 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. Note the spelling change: g becomes j before e, so the present subjunctive is muja and the preterite first person is mugí — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes. For mugir, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él muja cuando llega el granjero. 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 mugir, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él mugiera toda la mañana en el prado, 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. Note the spelling change: g becomes j before e, so the present subjunctive is muja and the preterite first person is mugí — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes. For mugir, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Muge en el establo por la noche! 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. Note the spelling change: g becomes j before e, so the present subjunctive is muja and the preterite first person is mugí — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes. For mugir, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No mujas en el campo al amanecer. 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 mugir, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Mujo en el campo al amanecer. — I moo in the fields at dawn.
  2. Muge cuando llega el granjero. — He/she moos when the farmer arrives.
  3. Ayer, mugí toda la mañana en el prado. — Yesterday, I mooed all morning in the meadow.
  4. Antes, nosotros mugíamos en el establo por la noche. — Before, we used to moo in the stable at night.
  5. Mañana, tú mugirás en el campo al amanecer. — Tomorrow, you will moo in the fields at dawn.
  6. Yo mugiría cuando llega el granjero si tuviera más tiempo. — I would moo when the farmer arrives if I had more time.
  7. Él ha mugido toda la mañana en el prado. — He has mooed all morning in the meadow.
  8. Espero que él muja en el establo por la noche. — I hope he moos in the stable at night.
  9. Yo ya había mugido en el campo al amanecer antes de salir. — I had already mooed in the fields at dawn before leaving.
  10. Ellos mugían cuando llega el granjero cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to moo when the farmer arrives when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo muge en el campo al amanecer. — Right: Yo mujo en el campo al amanecer. — The person matters: muge is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is mujo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
  2. Wrong: Espero que yo muge cuando llega el granjero. — Right: Espero que yo muja cuando llega el granjero. — Spelling change: g becomes j before e, so the present subjunctive is muja, never muge.
  3. Wrong: Treating mugir and balar as identical in every context. — Right: Mugir means to moo, while balar means to bleat, like a sheep. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: mugir fits sentences such as Mujo en el campo al amanecer, while balar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy mugido cuando llega el granjero. — Right: Yo he mugido cuando llega el granjero. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he mugido, has mugido, ha mugido. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo mugí toda la mañana en el prado todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo mugía toda la mañana en el prado todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (mugía), not the preterite. The preterite (mugí) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

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

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ en el campo al amanecer. (present tense) A. mujo B. muges C. muge D. mugimos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ cuando llega el granjero. (preterite) A. mugí B. mugiste C. mugieron D. mugió

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ toda la mañana en el prado. (imperfect) A. mugías B. mugían C. mugíamos D. mugía

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ en el establo por la noche. (future) A. mugiremos B. mugirás C. mugiré D. mugirá

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ en el campo al amanecer si pudiera. (conditional) A. mugiría B. mugirías C. mugirían D. mujo

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ cuando llega el granjero. (present subjunctive) A. mujas B. mujamos C. mujo D. muja

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ toda la mañana en el prado, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. mugiéramos B. mujo C. mugiera D. mugieras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ en el establo por la noche. (present perfect) A. han mugido B. hemos mugido C. he mugido D. has mugido

  9. Complete the command: ¡___ en el campo al amanecer! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. muge B. muja C. mujamos D. mugid

  10. Which is the gerund of mugir, used with estar for the progressive? A. mugido B. mujo C. mugí D. mugiendo

Answer key

  1. mujo — The first-person present of mugir is mujo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. mugió — The third-person preterite of mugir is mugió, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. mugíamos — The nosotros imperfect of mugir is mugíamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. mugirás — The second-person future of mugir is mugirás.
  5. mugiría — The first-person conditional of mugir is mugiría, the form for what would happen.
  6. muja — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of mugir is muja.
  7. mugiera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of mugir is mugiera.
  8. hemos mugido — The nosotros present perfect of mugir is hemos mugido: hemos + mugido.
  9. muge — The affirmative tú imperative of mugir is muge.
  10. mugiendo — The gerund of mugir is mugiendo: estoy mugiendo. The participle mugido is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does mugir mean in English?

Mugir means to moo. It is used in everyday situations such as Mujo en el campo al amanecer. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is mugir regular or irregular?

Mugir is a spelling-change verb, so it is not fully regular. Spelling change: g becomes j before e, so the present subjunctive is muja and the preterite first person is mugí — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes. The other tenses follow the regular -ir endings. Learn the changed forms from the tables above rather than applying the regular spelling.

What is the difference between mugir and balar?

Mugir means to moo, while balar means to bleat, like a sheep. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use mugir when you mean to moo, as in Mujo en el campo al amanecer, and use balar for to bleat, like a sheep. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I moo” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo mugí cuando llega el granjero. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo mugía toda la mañana en el prado. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he mugido cuando llega el granjero.

How do I practise mugir?

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

Related links