Nutrir Conjugation in Spanish
nutrir means "to nourish" in English, and it comes up when people talk about his family with healthy food, the body with vitamins, the children with milk and fruit and the mind with good books. This page gives you the complete conjugation of nutrir in every tense and mood — present, preterite, imperfect, future, conditional, the four perfect tenses, both subjunctive tenses and the imperative — with all six persons, plus the gerund and the past participle. Every form below comes from VerbFlow's verified conjugation tables, so you can trust the accents and the spelling changes. nutrir is a regular -ir verb, and the notes under each tense explain exactly where it follows the rules and where it breaks them. To hear it in a real sentence: Cada día, yo nutro a su familia con comida sana. — "Every day, I nourish his family with healthy food." Work through the tables, read the notes, then test yourself with the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: nutrir
- English: to nourish
- Verb type: regular -ir verb
- Gerund: nutriendo
- Past participle: nutrido
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all compound tenses use haber + nutrido)
Full conjugation table
Every tense of nutrir with all six persons. The gerund is nutriendo and the past participle is nutrido.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | nutro |
| tú | nutres |
| él/ella/Ud. | nutre |
| nosotros/as | nutrimos |
| vosotros/as | nutrís |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | nutren |
Preterite (past)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | nutrí |
| tú | nutriste |
| él/ella/Ud. | nutrió |
| nosotros/as | nutrimos |
| vosotros/as | nutristeis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | nutrieron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | nutría |
| tú | nutrías |
| él/ella/Ud. | nutría |
| nosotros/as | nutríamos |
| vosotros/as | nutríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | nutrían |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | nutriré |
| tú | nutrirás |
| él/ella/Ud. | nutrirá |
| nosotros/as | nutriremos |
| vosotros/as | nutriréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | nutrirán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | nutriría |
| tú | nutrirías |
| él/ella/Ud. | nutriría |
| nosotros/as | nutriríamos |
| vosotros/as | nutriríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | nutrirían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he nutrido |
| tú | has nutrido |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha nutrido |
| nosotros/as | hemos nutrido |
| vosotros/as | habéis nutrido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han nutrido |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había nutrido |
| tú | habías nutrido |
| él/ella/Ud. | había nutrido |
| nosotros/as | habíamos nutrido |
| vosotros/as | habíais nutrido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían nutrido |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré nutrido |
| tú | habrás nutrido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá nutrido |
| nosotros/as | habremos nutrido |
| vosotros/as | habréis nutrido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán nutrido |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría nutrido |
| tú | habrías nutrido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría nutrido |
| nosotros/as | habríamos nutrido |
| vosotros/as | habríais nutrido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían nutrido |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | nutra |
| tú | nutras |
| él/ella/Ud. | nutra |
| nosotros/as | nutramos |
| vosotros/as | nutráis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | nutran |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | nutriera |
| tú | nutrieras |
| él/ella/Ud. | nutriera |
| nosotros/as | nutriéramos |
| vosotros/as | nutrierais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | nutrieran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | nutre |
| él/ella/Ud. | nutra |
| nosotros/as | nutramos |
| vosotros/as | nutrid |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | nutran |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | nutras |
| él/ella/Ud. | nutra |
| nosotros/as | nutramos |
| vosotros/as | nutráis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | nutran |
Notes on each tense
A short note for every tense: when it is used, one example, and anything irregular about nutrir in that tense.
Present indicative
The present indicative of nutrir is used for routines, habits, general truths and things happening right now. Cada día, yo nutro a su familia con comida sana. — "Every day, I nourish his family with healthy food." For nutrir this tense follows the regular -ir pattern: the stem nutr- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Preterite (past)
The preterite (past) of nutrir is used for one action that started and finished in the past. Ayer, yo nutrí el cuerpo con vitaminas. — "Yesterday, I nourished the body with vitamins." For nutrir this tense follows the regular -ir pattern: the stem nutr- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Imperfect
The imperfect of nutrir is used for an ongoing or repeated action in the past, background description and habits that no longer happen. Antes, yo nutría a los niños con leche y fruta. — "In the past, I used to nourish the children with milk and fruit." For nutrir this tense follows the regular -ir pattern: the stem nutr- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Future
The future of nutrir is used for what will happen, plans and predictions. Mañana, nosotros nutriremos la mente con buenos libros. — "Tomorrow, we will nourish the mind with good books." For nutrir this tense follows the regular -ir pattern: the stem nutr- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Conditional
The conditional of nutrir is used for what would happen, hypothetical situations and polite requests. Si pudieras, tú nutrirías a su familia con comida sana. — "If you could, you would nourish his family with healthy food." For nutrir this tense follows the regular -ir pattern: the stem nutr- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Present perfect
The present perfect of nutrir is used for an action completed in the recent past that still matters now, or life experience up to now. Yo he nutrido el cuerpo con vitaminas. — "I have nourished the body with vitamins." For nutrir this tense follows the regular -ir pattern: the stem nutr- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Pluperfect
The pluperfect of nutrir is used for an action that had already happened before another past action. Antes de la fiesta, yo había nutrido a los niños con leche y fruta. — "Before the party, I had nourished the children with milk and fruit." For nutrir this tense follows the regular -ir pattern: the stem nutr- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Future perfect
The future perfect of nutrir is used for an action that will be finished by a point in the future. Para mañana, yo habré nutrido la mente con buenos libros. — "By tomorrow, I will have nourished the mind with good books." For nutrir this tense follows the regular -ir pattern: the stem nutr- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Conditional perfect
The conditional perfect of nutrir is used for what would have happened if things had been different. Si hubiera podido, yo habría nutrido a su familia con comida sana. — "If I had been able to, I would have nourished his family with healthy food." For nutrir this tense follows the regular -ir pattern: the stem nutr- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Present subjunctive
The present subjunctive of nutrir is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and requests after expressions such as espero que. Espero que él nutra el cuerpo con vitaminas. — "I hope that he/she nourishes the body with vitamins." For nutrir this tense follows the regular -ir pattern: the stem nutr- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
The imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of nutrir is used for the same subjunctive meanings in the past, and in si clauses about unreal situations. Si él nutriera a los niños con leche y fruta, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she nourished the children with milk and fruit, everything would turn out better." For nutrir this tense follows the regular -ir pattern: the stem nutr- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Imperative (affirmative)
The imperative (affirmative) of nutrir is used for orders, instructions and invitations. ¡Nutre la mente con buenos libros! — "Nourish the mind with good books!" For nutrir this tense follows the regular -ir pattern: the stem nutr- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Imperative (negative)
The imperative (negative) of nutrir is used for prohibitions and negative orders. No nutras a su familia con comida sana. — "Do not nourish his family with healthy food." For nutrir this tense follows the regular -ir pattern: the stem nutr- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Examples: nutrir in real sentences
Ten sentences with nutrir, one for each main tense, each with its English translation. Read them aloud, then try changing the person and the complement to make your own versions.
- Cada día, yo nutro a su familia con comida sana. — "Every day, I nourish his family with healthy food." This is the present tense, used for a habit.
- Ayer, yo nutrí el cuerpo con vitaminas. — "Yesterday, I nourished the body with vitamins." This is the preterite, one finished action.
- Antes, yo nutría a los niños con leche y fruta. — "In the past, I used to nourish the children with milk and fruit." This is the imperfect, a repeated action in the past.
- Mañana, nosotros nutriremos la mente con buenos libros. — "Tomorrow, we will nourish the mind with good books." This is the future tense, a plan for tomorrow.
- Si pudieras, tú nutrirías a su familia con comida sana. — "If you could, you would nourish his family with healthy food." This is the conditional, something that would happen.
- Yo he nutrido el cuerpo con vitaminas. — "I have nourished the body with vitamins." This is the present perfect, an action with present relevance.
- Espero que él nutra a los niños con leche y fruta. — "I hope that he/she nourishes the children with milk and fruit." This is the present subjunctive, after espero que.
- Si él nutriera la mente con buenos libros, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she nourished the mind with good books, everything would turn out better." This is the imperfect subjunctive, in a si clause.
- ¡Nutre a su familia con comida sana! — "Nourish his family with healthy food!" This is the imperative, a direct order or request.
- Ahora, Yo estoy nutriendo el cuerpo con vitaminas. — "Now, I am nourishing the body with vitamins." This is the progressive, with estar and the gerund.
Common mistakes with nutrir
The errors learners actually make with nutrir, each with the wrong form, the right form, and why it is wrong.
Mistake 1: Adding a reflexive pronoun that does not belong
- Wrong: Yo me nutro a su familia con comida sana.
- Right: Yo nutro a su familia con comida sana.
- Why: nutrir is not reflexive, so there is no pronoun to add. Yo nutro a su familia con comida sana. is the correct sentence, and the extra pronoun changes the meaning.
Mistake 2: Dropping the accent on the vosotros form
- Wrong: Vosotros nutris a su familia con comida sana.
- Right: Vosotros nutrís a su familia con comida sana.
- Why: The vosotros form nutrís carries a written accent. Without it the word is misspelled, and in writing the accent is part of the form.
Mistake 3: Using the present tense for yesterday
- Wrong: Ayer, yo nutro el cuerpo con vitaminas.
- Right: Ayer, yo nutrí el cuerpo con vitaminas.
- Why: Ayer means yesterday, so the action is finished and needs the preterite. The present tense is for habits and routines, not for yesterday: Ayer, yo nutrí el cuerpo con vitaminas. — "Yesterday, I nourished the body with vitamins."
Mistake 4: Mixing up the gerund and the participle
- Wrong: Estoy nutrido a los niños con leche y fruta.
- Right: Estoy nutriendo a los niños con leche y fruta.
- Why: After estar you need the gerund nutriendo for the progressive. The participle nutrido goes with haber in the perfect tenses (he nutrido), never after estar.
Mistake 5: Confusing nutrir with nutrirse
- Wrong: Yo me nutro a su familia con comida sana.
- Right: Yo nutro a su familia con comida sana.
- Why: nutrir (to nourish) and nutrirse are partners, not the same verb. The reflexive partner nutrirse is used when the action comes back to the subject, while nutrir is used when the action is done to someone or something else.
Quiz: nutrir conjugation
Test yourself with ten questions on nutrir. The answers are explained, so read them even when you get a question right.
1. What is the yo form of nutrir in the present tense?
- (a) nutro
- (b) nutres
- (c) nutre
- (d) nutrimos
Answer: (a) nutro. The yo form is nutro. Check the person before you answer.
2. What is the tú form of nutrir in the present tense?
- (a) nutro
- (b) nutre
- (c) nutrimos
- (d) nutres
Answer: (d) nutres. The tú form is nutres. Check the person before you answer.
3. What is the él/ella form of nutrir in the present tense?
- (a) nutres
- (b) nutrimos
- (c) nutre
- (d) nutro
Answer: (c) nutre. The él/ella form is nutre. Check the person before you answer.
4. What is the nosotros form of nutrir in the present tense?
- (a) nutre
- (b) nutrimos
- (c) nutro
- (d) nutres
Answer: (b) nutrimos. The nosotros form is nutrimos. Check the person before you answer.
5. What is the ellos/ellas form of nutrir in the present tense?
- (a) nutren
- (b) nutro
- (c) nutres
- (d) nutre
Answer: (a) nutren. The ellos/ellas form is nutren. Check the person before you answer.
6. What is the gerund of nutrir?
- (a) nutriendo
- (b) nutrido
- (c) nutro
- (d) nutrir
Answer: (a) nutriendo. The gerund is nutriendo, used for the progressive: estoy nutriendo.
7. What is the past participle of nutrir?
- (a) nutriendo
- (b) nutrí
- (c) nutrir
- (d) nutrido
Answer: (d) nutrido. The past participle is nutrido, used with haber in all perfect tenses: he nutrido.
8. Complete the sentence: Cada día, yo ___ a su familia con comida sana.
- (a) nutre
- (b) nutrimos
- (c) nutro
- (d) nutres
Answer: (c) nutro. The sentence needs the yo form nutro (Every day, I nourish his family with healthy food.)
9. What is the yo form of nutrir in the preterite?
- (a) nutrimos
- (b) nutrí
- (c) nutriste
- (d) nutrió
Answer: (b) nutrí. The yo preterite is nutrí. The preterite describes one finished action.
10. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ a los niños con leche y fruta.
- (a) nutras
- (b) nutramos
- (c) nutráis
- (d) nutra
Answer: (d) nutra. After espero que Spanish needs the subjunctive, and the él form is nutra.
Frequently asked questions about nutrir
Is nutrir regular?
Yes. nutrir is a regular -ir verb: nutro, nutrí, nutría, nutriré. There are no spelling changes and no stem changes, so once you know the endings you can conjugate it in every tense.
What does nutrir mean, and when do I use it?
nutrir means "to nourish" in English. Use it when you talk about his family with healthy food, the body with vitamins, the children with milk and fruit and the mind with good books — for example: Yo nutro a su familia con comida sana. — "I nourish his family with healthy food." It is a practical verb for everyday conversation, and it appears in all the tenses on this page.
How do you say it in a real sentence?
A natural sentence is: Yo nutro a su familia con comida sana. — "I nourish his family with healthy food." Change the person using the table above, and change the complement to talk about your own life: the verb stays the same, only the ending changes.
What is the difference between nutrir and nutrirse?
nutrir means "to nourish", while nutrirse means "to nourish oneself". The reflexive form is used when the action comes back to the subject, and the plain form is used when the action is done to someone or something else. Compare the two pages side by side to feel the difference.
When do I use the present tense instead of the preterite with nutrir?
Use the present for habits and routines: Yo nutro a su familia con comida sana. — "I nourish his family with healthy food." Use the preterite for one finished action: Ayer, yo nutrí a su familia con comida sana. — "Yesterday, I nourished his family with healthy food." If the action happens regularly, choose the present; if it happened once and is finished, choose the preterite.