Multiplicar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb multiplicar means to multiply, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Multiplicar means to multiply, and it is used for multiplying a number by three, multiplying earnings and, figuratively, multiplying efforts. It takes por for the multiplier, and it is a spelling-change verb: the c becomes qu before e. Like every Spanish verb, multiplicar 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 multiplico el número por tres, and in the preterite you say multipliqué los esfuerzos del equipo. 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: multiplicar
- English: to multiply
- Verb type: irregular verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: multiplicando
- Past participle: multiplicado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + multiplicado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for multiplicar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Spelling change: c becomes qu before e, so the preterite is multipliqué and the subjunctive is multiplique. In maths it takes por: multiplicar por tres.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for multiplicar. 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 | multiplico |
| tú | multiplicas |
| él/ella/Ud. | multiplica |
| nosotros/as | multiplicamos |
| vosotros/as | multiplicáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | multiplican |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | multipliqué |
| tú | multiplicaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | multiplicó |
| nosotros/as | multiplicamos |
| vosotros/as | multiplicasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | multiplicaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | multiplicaba |
| tú | multiplicabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | multiplicaba |
| nosotros/as | multiplicábamos |
| vosotros/as | multiplicabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | multiplicaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | multiplicaré |
| tú | multiplicarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | multiplicará |
| nosotros/as | multiplicaremos |
| vosotros/as | multiplicaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | multiplicarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | multiplicaría |
| tú | multiplicarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | multiplicaría |
| nosotros/as | multiplicaríamos |
| vosotros/as | multiplicaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | multiplicarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he multiplicado |
| tú | has multiplicado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha multiplicado |
| nosotros/as | hemos multiplicado |
| vosotros/as | habéis multiplicado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han multiplicado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había multiplicado |
| tú | habías multiplicado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había multiplicado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos multiplicado |
| vosotros/as | habíais multiplicado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían multiplicado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré multiplicado |
| tú | habrás multiplicado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá multiplicado |
| nosotros/as | habremos multiplicado |
| vosotros/as | habréis multiplicado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán multiplicado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría multiplicado |
| tú | habrías multiplicado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría multiplicado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos multiplicado |
| vosotros/as | habríais multiplicado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían multiplicado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | multiplique |
| tú | multipliques |
| él/ella/Ud. | multiplique |
| nosotros/as | multipliquemos |
| vosotros/as | multipliquéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | multipliquen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | multiplicara |
| tú | multiplicaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | multiplicara |
| nosotros/as | multiplicáramos |
| vosotros/as | multiplicarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | multiplicaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | multiplica |
| él/ella/Ud. | multiplique |
| nosotros/as | multipliquemos |
| vosotros/as | multiplicad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | multipliquen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | multipliques |
| él/ella/Ud. | multiplique |
| nosotros/as | multipliquemos |
| vosotros/as | multipliquéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | multipliquen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | multiplicando | with estar for the progressive: estoy multiplicando |
| Past participle | multiplicado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he multiplicado |
How to use each tense
Present indicative
Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. Note the spelling change here: c becomes qu before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For multiplicar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Multiplico el número por tres. 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 in the first person: c becomes qu before e, so the preterite first person is multipliqué. For multiplicar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, multipliqué sus ganancias en un año. 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 multiplicar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, multiplicaba los esfuerzos del equipo. 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 multiplicar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, multiplicaré los panes y los peces en el relato. 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 multiplicar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Multiplicaría el número por tres 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 multiplicar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he multiplicado sus ganancias en un año. 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 multiplicar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había multiplicado los esfuerzos del equipo 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 multiplicar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré multiplicado los panes y los peces en el relato. 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 multiplicar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría multiplicado el número por tres 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 here: c becomes qu before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For multiplicar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él multiplique sus ganancias en un año. 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 multiplicar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él multiplicara los esfuerzos del equipo, 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 here: c becomes qu before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For multiplicar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Multiplica los panes y los peces en el relato! 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 here: c becomes qu before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For multiplicar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No multipliques el número por tres. 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 multiplicar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Multiplico el número por tres. — I multiply the number by three.
- Multiplica sus ganancias en un año. — He/she multiplies his earnings in a year.
- Ayer, multipliqué los esfuerzos del equipo. — Yesterday, I multiplied the team's efforts.
- Antes, nosotros multiplicábamos los panes y los peces en el relato. — Before, we used to multiply the loaves and fishes in the story.
- Mañana, tú multiplicarás el número por tres. — Tomorrow, you will multiply the number by three.
- Yo multiplicaría sus ganancias en un año si tuviera más tiempo. — I would multiply his earnings in a year if I had more time.
- Él ha multiplicado los esfuerzos del equipo. — He has multiplied the team's efforts.
- Espero que él multiplique los panes y los peces en el relato. — I hope he multiplies the loaves and fishes in the story.
- Yo ya había multiplicado el número por tres antes de salir. — I had already multiplied the number by three before leaving.
- Ellos multiplicaban sus ganancias en un año cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to multiply his earnings in a year when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo multiplica el número por tres. — Right: Yo multiplico el número por tres. — The person matters: multiplica is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is multiplico. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Yo multiplicé sus ganancias en un año. — Right: Yo multipliqué sus ganancias en un año. — In the preterite, the correct first-person form is multipliqué, not multiplicé. multiplicar is a spelling-change verb: c becomes qu before e, so the written form changes to keep the same sound. The regular-looking form is wrong.
- Wrong: Treating multiplicar and sumar as identical in every context. — Right: Multiplicar means to multiply, while sumar means to add, the maths partner. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: multiplicar fits sentences such as Multiplico el número por tres, while sumar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy multiplicado sus ganancias en un año. — Right: Yo he multiplicado sus ganancias en un año. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he multiplicado, has multiplicado, ha multiplicado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo multipliqué los esfuerzos del equipo todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo multiplicaba los esfuerzos del equipo todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (multiplicaba), not the preterite. The preterite (multipliqué) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on multiplicar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el número por tres. (present tense) A. multiplico B. multiplicas C. multiplica D. multiplicamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ sus ganancias en un año. (preterite) A. multipliqué B. multiplicaste C. multiplicaron D. multiplicó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ los esfuerzos del equipo. (imperfect) A. multiplicabas B. multiplicaban C. multiplicábamos D. multiplicaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ los panes y los peces en el relato. (future) A. multiplicaremos B. multiplicarás C. multiplicaré D. multiplicará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el número por tres si pudiera. (conditional) A. multiplicaría B. multiplicarías C. multiplicarían D. multiplico
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ sus ganancias en un año. (present subjunctive) A. multipliques B. multipliquemos C. multiplico D. multiplique
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ los esfuerzos del equipo, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. multiplicáramos B. multiplico C. multiplicara D. multiplicaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ los panes y los peces en el relato. (present perfect) A. han multiplicado B. hemos multiplicado C. he multiplicado D. has multiplicado
Complete the command: ¡___ el número por tres! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. multiplica B. multiplique C. multipliquemos D. multiplicad
Which is the gerund of multiplicar, used with estar for the progressive? A. multiplicado B. multiplico C. multipliqué D. multiplicando
Answer key
- multiplico — The first-person present of multiplicar is multiplico. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- multiplicó — The third-person preterite of multiplicar is multiplicó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- multiplicábamos — The nosotros imperfect of multiplicar is multiplicábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- multiplicarás — The second-person future of multiplicar is multiplicarás.
- multiplicaría — The first-person conditional of multiplicar is multiplicaría, the form for what would happen.
- multiplique — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of multiplicar is multiplique.
- multiplicara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of multiplicar is multiplicara.
- hemos multiplicado — The nosotros present perfect of multiplicar is hemos multiplicado: hemos + multiplicado.
- multiplica — The affirmative tú imperative of multiplicar is multiplica.
- multiplicando — The gerund of multiplicar is multiplicando: estoy multiplicando. The participle multiplicado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does multiplicar mean in English?
Multiplicar means to multiply. It is used in everyday situations such as Multiplico el número por tres. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is multiplicar regular or irregular?
Multiplicar 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 multiplico in the present and multipliqué in the preterite.
What is the difference between multiplicar and sumar?
Multiplicar means to multiply, while sumar means to add, the maths partner. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use multiplicar when you mean to multiply, as in Multiplico el número por tres, and use sumar for to add, the maths partner. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I multiply” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo multipliqué sus ganancias en un año. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo multiplicaba los esfuerzos del equipo. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he multiplicado sus ganancias en un año.
How do I practise multiplicar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the multiplicar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Multiplicar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for multiplicar.
- Multiplicar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for multiplicar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Duplicar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with multiplicar.
- Pacificar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with multiplicar.
- Publicar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with multiplicar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.