Nutrirse Conjugation in Spanish
nutrirse means "to nourish oneself" in English, and it comes up when people talk about fresh vegetables, fruit and cereals, home cooking and protein after sport. This page gives you the complete conjugation of nutrirse 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. nutrirse is a Reflexive 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 me nutro de verduras frescas. — "Every day, I nourish oneself on fresh vegetables." Work through the tables, read the notes, then test yourself with the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: nutrirse
- English: to nourish oneself
- Verb type: Reflexive regular -ir verb
- Gerund: nutriendo
- Past participle: nutrido
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all compound tenses use haber + nutrido)
- Reflexive: yes — always use it with the reflexive pronouns me, te, se, nos, os, se.
Full conjugation table
Every tense of nutrirse 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 nutrirse in that tense.
Present indicative
The present indicative of nutrirse is used for routines, habits, general truths and things happening right now. Cada día, yo me nutro de verduras frescas. — "Every day, I nourish oneself on fresh vegetables." For nutrirse 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 nutrirse is used for one action that started and finished in the past. Ayer, yo me nutrí de frutas y cereales. — "Yesterday, I nourished oneself on fruit and cereals." For nutrirse 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 nutrirse is used for an ongoing or repeated action in the past, background description and habits that no longer happen. Antes, yo me nutría de comida casera. — "In the past, I used to nourish oneself on home cooking." For nutrirse 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 nutrirse is used for what will happen, plans and predictions. Mañana, nosotros nos nutriremos de proteínas después del deporte. — "Tomorrow, we will nourish oneself on protein after sport." For nutrirse 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 nutrirse is used for what would happen, hypothetical situations and polite requests. Si pudieras, tú te nutrirías de verduras frescas. — "If you could, you would nourish oneself on fresh vegetables." For nutrirse 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 nutrirse is used for an action completed in the recent past that still matters now, or life experience up to now. Yo me he nutrido de frutas y cereales. — "I have nourished oneself on fruit and cereals." For nutrirse 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 nutrirse is used for an action that had already happened before another past action. Antes de la fiesta, yo me había nutrido de comida casera. — "Before the party, I had nourished oneself on home cooking." For nutrirse 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 nutrirse is used for an action that will be finished by a point in the future. Para mañana, yo me habré nutrido de proteínas después del deporte. — "By tomorrow, I will have nourished oneself on protein after sport." For nutrirse 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 nutrirse is used for what would have happened if things had been different. Si hubiera podido, yo me habría nutrido de verduras frescas. — "If I had been able to, I would have nourished oneself on fresh vegetables." For nutrirse 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 nutrirse is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and requests after expressions such as espero que. Espero que él se nutra de frutas y cereales. — "I hope that he/she nourishes oneself on fruit and cereals." For nutrirse 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 nutrirse is used for the same subjunctive meanings in the past, and in si clauses about unreal situations. Si él se nutriera de comida casera, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she nourished oneself on home cooking, everything would turn out better." For nutrirse 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 nutrirse is used for orders, instructions and invitations. ¡Que se nutra de proteínas después del deporte! — "Let him/her nourish oneself on protein after sport!" For nutrirse 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 nutrirse is used for prohibitions and negative orders. No te nutras de verduras frescas. — "Do not nourish oneself on fresh vegetables." For nutrirse 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: nutrirse in real sentences
Ten sentences with nutrirse, 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 me nutro de verduras frescas. — "Every day, I nourish oneself on fresh vegetables." This is the present tense, used for a habit.
- Ayer, yo me nutrí de frutas y cereales. — "Yesterday, I nourished oneself on fruit and cereals." This is the preterite, one finished action.
- Antes, yo me nutría de comida casera. — "In the past, I used to nourish oneself on home cooking." This is the imperfect, a repeated action in the past.
- Mañana, nosotros nos nutriremos de proteínas después del deporte. — "Tomorrow, we will nourish oneself on protein after sport." This is the future tense, a plan for tomorrow.
- Si pudieras, tú te nutrirías de verduras frescas. — "If you could, you would nourish oneself on fresh vegetables." This is the conditional, something that would happen.
- Yo me he nutrido de frutas y cereales. — "I have nourished oneself on fruit and cereals." This is the present perfect, an action with present relevance.
- Espero que él se nutra de comida casera. — "I hope that he/she nourishes oneself on home cooking." This is the present subjunctive, after espero que.
- Si él se nutriera de proteínas después del deporte, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she nourished oneself on protein after sport, everything would turn out better." This is the imperfect subjunctive, in a si clause.
- ¡No te nutras de verduras frescas! — "Do not nourish oneself on fresh vegetables!" This is the imperative, a direct order or request.
- Ahora, Yo me estoy nutriendo de frutas y cereales. — "Now, I am nourishing oneself on fruit and cereals." This is the progressive, with estar and the gerund.
Common mistakes with nutrirse
The errors learners actually make with nutrirse, each with the wrong form, the right form, and why it is wrong.
Mistake 1: Forgetting the reflexive pronoun
- Wrong: Yo nutro de verduras frescas.
- Right: Yo me nutro de verduras frescas.
- Why: nutrirse is reflexive, so the pronoun is part of the verb: Yo me nutro de verduras frescas.. Without me the sentence is incomplete, and it sounds as if the action happens to someone else.
Mistake 2: Dropping the accent on the vosotros form
- Wrong: Vosotros os nutris de verduras frescas.
- Right: Vosotros os nutrís de verduras frescas.
- 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 me nutro de frutas y cereales.
- Right: Ayer, yo me nutrí de frutas y cereales.
- 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 me nutrí de frutas y cereales. — "Yesterday, I nourished oneself on fruit and cereals."
Mistake 4: Mixing up the gerund and the participle
- Wrong: Me estoy nutrido de comida casera.
- Right: Me estoy nutriendo de comida casera.
- Why: After estar you need the gerund nutriendo for the progressive. The participle nutrido goes with haber in the perfect tenses (me he nutrido), never after estar.
Mistake 5: Confusing nutrirse with nutrir
- Wrong: Yo nutro de verduras frescas.
- Right: Yo me nutro de verduras frescas.
- Why: nutrirse (to nourish oneself) and nutrir are partners, not the same verb. nutrirse means "to nourish oneself", while the other form is used when the action is done to someone else. Use the reflexive pronoun when the action comes back to the subject.
Quiz: nutrirse conjugation
Test yourself with ten questions on nutrirse. The answers are explained, so read them even when you get a question right.
1. What is the yo form of nutrirse in the present tense?
- (a) nutrimos
- (b) nutro
- (c) nutres
- (d) nutre
Answer: (b) nutro. The yo form is nutro. Check the person before you answer.
2. What is the tú form of nutrirse in the present tense?
- (a) nutres
- (b) nutro
- (c) nutre
- (d) nutrimos
Answer: (a) nutres. The tú form is nutres. Check the person before you answer.
3. What is the él/ella form of nutrirse in the present tense?
- (a) nutro
- (b) nutres
- (c) nutrimos
- (d) nutre
Answer: (d) nutre. The él/ella form is nutre. Check the person before you answer.
4. What is the nosotros form of nutrirse in the present tense?
- (a) nutres
- (b) nutre
- (c) nutrimos
- (d) nutro
Answer: (c) nutrimos. The nosotros form is nutrimos. Check the person before you answer.
5. What is the ellos/ellas form of nutrirse in the present tense?
- (a) nutre
- (b) nutren
- (c) nutro
- (d) nutres
Answer: (b) nutren. The ellos/ellas form is nutren. Check the person before you answer.
6. What is the gerund of nutrirse?
- (a) nutrirse
- (b) nutriendo
- (c) nutrido
- (d) nutro
Answer: (b) nutriendo. The gerund is nutriendo, used for the progressive: me estoy nutriendo.
7. What is the past participle of nutrirse?
- (a) nutrido
- (b) nutriendo
- (c) nutrí
- (d) nutrirse
Answer: (a) nutrido. The past participle is nutrido, used with haber in all perfect tenses: me he nutrido.
8. Complete the sentence: Cada día, yo ___ de verduras frescas.
- (a) nutres
- (b) nutre
- (c) nutrimos
- (d) nutro
Answer: (d) nutro. The sentence needs the yo form nutro (Every day, I nourish oneself on fresh vegetables.)
9. What is the yo form of nutrirse in the preterite?
- (a) nutrió
- (b) nutrimos
- (c) nutrí
- (d) nutriste
Answer: (c) nutrí. The yo preterite is nutrí. The preterite describes one finished action.
10. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ de comida casera.
- (a) nutra
- (b) nutras
- (c) nutramos
- (d) nutráis
Answer: (a) nutra. After espero que Spanish needs the subjunctive, and the él form is nutra.
Frequently asked questions about nutrirse
Is nutrirse regular?
Yes. nutrirse 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 nutrirse mean, and when do I use it?
nutrirse means "to nourish oneself" in English. Use it when you talk about fresh vegetables, fruit and cereals, home cooking and protein after sport — for example: Yo me nutro de verduras frescas. — "I nourish oneself on fresh vegetables." 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 me nutro de verduras frescas. — "I nourish oneself on fresh vegetables." 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.
Is nutrirse reflexive?
Yes. nutrirse is reflexive, so it always travels with a pronoun: me, te, se, nos, os, se. Yo me nutro de verduras frescas. — "I nourish oneself on fresh vegetables." If you drop the pronoun, the sentence is incomplete. The pronoun goes before the conjugated verb, and it attaches to the end of the gerund and of affirmative imperatives.
When do I use the present tense instead of the preterite with nutrirse?
Use the present for habits and routines: Yo me nutro de verduras frescas. — "I nourish oneself on fresh vegetables." Use the preterite for one finished action: Ayer, yo me nutrí de verduras frescas. — "Yesterday, I nourished oneself on fresh vegetables." If the action happens regularly, choose the present; if it happened once and is finished, choose the preterite.