Introduction

Peinar means “to comb”, and this page covers exactly one thing: peinar 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 peinar, 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 peinar in the present. Peinar in the present describes a habit, a fact or something happening right now. For example: “Yo peino el pelo” — "I comb my hair". Everything on this page uses the forms of peinar exactly as they are conjugated in the present, so you can trust every form you see here.

Peinar in the Present Tense — full table

Person Form
yo peino
tú peinas
él/ella/Ud. peina
nosotros/as peinamos
vosotros/as peináis
ellos/ellas/Uds. peinan

Gerund: peinando · Past participle: peinado

The gerund is peinando, which you use with estar to say what is happening right now: “Estoy peinando” means the action of peinar is in progress at this very moment. The past participle is peinado, which you use with haber in the perfect tenses: “he peinado” 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 peinar is used.

How the present of peinar is formed

Peinar is a regular -ar verb in the present. Take the stem pein and add the present endings for -ar verbs: -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an, giving peino, peinas, peina, peinamos, peináis, peinan. Watch the accents: the vosotros form, peináis, carries an accent on the á, é or í. The present of peinar is fully regular, but two details deserve attention. First, the accents: the vosotros form peináis carries a written accent. Second, the yo form peino is the form the present subjunctive is built from, so learn it well — it unlocks the subjunctive too.

When to use the present of peinar

The present is not a single-purpose tense. Below are the five situations where you will use peinar 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, peinar goes in the present. Example: “Yo peino a mi hija” — "I comb my daughter".

2. General facts

Use the present for things that are true in general, not just today. A fact about peinar does not need a time word at all. Example: “Él peina delante del espejo” — "He combs in front of the mirror".

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 peino can mean both "I comb" and "I am combing". Example: “Yo peino el pelo” — "I comb my hair".

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 peinamos a mi hija” — "We comb my daughter".

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 peinar just as it does with any other verb. Example: “Él peina delante del espejo” — "He combs in front of the mirror".

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 peino el pelo” — "I comb my hair".

  • Preterite: “Yo peiné el pelo” — "I combed my hair".

  • 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 peina a mi hija” — "He combs my daughter".

  • Preterite: “Él peinó a mi hija” — "He combed my daughter".

  • 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 peinamos delante del espejo” — "We comb in front of the mirror".

  • Preterite: “Nosotros peinamos delante del espejo” — "We combed in front of the mirror".

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

Example sentences: peinar 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 peino a mi hija” — "I comb my daughter"

  2. “Tú peinas delante del espejo” — "You comb in front of the mirror"

  3. “Él peina el pelo” — "He combs my hair"

  4. “Nosotros peinamos a mi hija” — "We comb my daughter"

  5. “Vosotros peináis delante del espejo” — "You comb in front of the mirror"

  6. “Ellos peinan el pelo” — "They comb my hair"

  7. “Yo peino a mi hija” — "I comb my daughter"

  8. “Él peina delante del espejo” — "He combs in front of the mirror"

Common mistakes with peinar 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 peina el pelo” Right: “Ellos peinan el pelo” Why: Ellos needs the ellos form peinan. The singular peina belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

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

  • Wrong: “Yo peina el pelo.” Right: “Yo peino el pelo” Why: Yo needs the yo form peino. The él form peina belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

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

Quiz: peinar 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 ___ delante del espejo.” (yo form)

A. peinamos B. peinas C. peina D. peino

2. Complete the sentence: “Tú ___ el pelo.” (tú form)

A. peináis B. peinas C. peinamos D. peinan

3. Complete the sentence: “Él ___ a mi hija.” (él/ella/Ud. form)

A. peina B. peináis C. peinamos D. peino

4. Complete the sentence: “Nosotros ___ delante del espejo.” (nosotros/as form)

A. peináis B. peinamos C. peina D. peinas

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

A. peina B. peináis C. peinan D. peinamos

6. Complete the sentence: “Ellos ___ a mi hija.” (ellos/ellas/Uds. form)

A. peinamos B. peinan C. peino D. peináis

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 peino B. Todos los días, yo peiné

Answer key

  1. peino — The yo present of peinar is peino.
  2. peinas — The tú present of peinar is peinas.
  3. peina — The él/ella/Ud. present of peinar is peina.
  4. peinamos — The nosotros/as present of peinar is peinamos.
  5. peináis — The vosotros/as present of peinar is peináis.
  6. peinan — The ellos/ellas/Uds. present of peinar is peinan.
  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 peino — 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 peinar?

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

How is the present of peinar formed?

Take the stem pein- and add the present endings for -ar verbs (-o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an), giving peino, peinas, peina, peinamos, peináis, peinan.

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

The present (peino) describes a habit or something happening now, while the preterite (peiné) 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 peinar in the present?

Say the six forms out loud — peino, peinas, peina, peinamos, peináis, peinan — then use them in the example sentences above, changing the person each time. Then try the peinar examples and quiz page, and the full conjugation of peinar when you want to compare the present with the other tenses.

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