Propagar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb propagar means to spread, to propagate, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Propagar means to spread or to propagate, and it covers spreading news, a disease, a rumour and a plant: propagar una noticia, propagar una enfermedad. It is a spelling-change verb: g becomes gu before e, so the preterite is propagué and the subjunctive propague. Like every Spanish verb, propagar 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 propago una noticia por el pueblo, and in the preterite you say propagué un rumor en la oficina. 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: propagar
- English: to spread, to propagate
- Verb type: irregular verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: propagando
- Past participle: propagado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + propagado)
- Pattern to learn: this verb is a -gar verb: g becomes gu before e, so the preterite first person is propagué and the present subjunctive is propague.
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for propagar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Spelling change: g becomes gu before e, so the preterite is propagué and the subjunctive propague.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for propagar. 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 | propago |
| tú | propagas |
| él/ella/Ud. | propaga |
| nosotros/as | propagamos |
| vosotros/as | propagáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | propagan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | propagué |
| tú | propagaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | propagó |
| nosotros/as | propagamos |
| vosotros/as | propagasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | propagaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | propagaba |
| tú | propagabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | propagaba |
| nosotros/as | propagábamos |
| vosotros/as | propagabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | propagaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | propagaré |
| tú | propagarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | propagará |
| nosotros/as | propagaremos |
| vosotros/as | propagaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | propagarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | propagaría |
| tú | propagarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | propagaría |
| nosotros/as | propagaríamos |
| vosotros/as | propagaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | propagarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he propagado |
| tú | has propagado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha propagado |
| nosotros/as | hemos propagado |
| vosotros/as | habéis propagado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han propagado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había propagado |
| tú | habías propagado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había propagado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos propagado |
| vosotros/as | habíais propagado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían propagado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré propagado |
| tú | habrás propagado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá propagado |
| nosotros/as | habremos propagado |
| vosotros/as | habréis propagado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán propagado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría propagado |
| tú | habrías propagado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría propagado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos propagado |
| vosotros/as | habríais propagado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían propagado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | propague |
| tú | propagues |
| él/ella/Ud. | propague |
| nosotros/as | propaguemos |
| vosotros/as | propaguéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | propaguen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | propagara |
| tú | propagaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | propagara |
| nosotros/as | propagáramos |
| vosotros/as | propagarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | propagaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | propaga |
| él/ella/Ud. | propague |
| nosotros/as | propaguemos |
| vosotros/as | propagad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | propaguen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | propagues |
| él/ella/Ud. | propague |
| nosotros/as | propaguemos |
| vosotros/as | propaguéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | propaguen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | propagando | with estar for the progressive: estoy propagando |
| Past participle | propagado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he propagado |
How to use each tense
Present indicative
Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. Note the pattern here: this verb is a -gar verb: g becomes gu before e, so the preterite first person is propagué and the present subjunctive is propague. For propagar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Propago una noticia por el pueblo. 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 here: this verb is a -gar verb: g becomes gu before e, so the preterite first person is propagué and the present subjunctive is propague. For propagar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, propagué una enfermedad en invierno. 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 propagar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, propagaba un rumor en la oficina. 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 propagar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, propagaré plantas en el jardín. 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 propagar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Propagaría una noticia por el pueblo 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 propagar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he propagado una enfermedad en invierno. 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 propagar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había propagado un rumor en la oficina 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 propagar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré propagado plantas en el jardín. 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 propagar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría propagado una noticia por el pueblo 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: this verb is a -gar verb: g becomes gu before e, so the preterite first person is propagué and the present subjunctive is propague. For propagar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él propague una enfermedad en invierno. 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 propagar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él propagara un rumor en la oficina, 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: this verb is a -gar verb: g becomes gu before e, so the preterite first person is propagué and the present subjunctive is propague. For propagar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Propaga plantas en el jardín! 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: this verb is a -gar verb: g becomes gu before e, so the preterite first person is propagué and the present subjunctive is propague. For propagar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No propagues una noticia por el pueblo. 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 propagar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Propago una noticia por el pueblo. — I spread news through the village.
- Propaga una enfermedad en invierno. — He/she spreads a disease in winter.
- Ayer, propagué un rumor en la oficina. — Yesterday, I spread a rumour in the office.
- Antes, nosotros propagábamos plantas en el jardín. — Before, we used to spread plants in the garden.
- Mañana, tú propagarás una noticia por el pueblo. — Tomorrow, you will spread news through the village.
- Yo propagaría una enfermedad en invierno si tuviera más tiempo. — I would spread a disease in winter if I had more time.
- Él ha propagado un rumor en la oficina. — He has spread a rumour in the office.
- Espero que él propague plantas en el jardín. — I hope he spreads plants in the garden.
- Yo ya había propagado una noticia por el pueblo antes de salir. — I had already spread news through the village before leaving.
- Ellos propagaban una enfermedad en invierno cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to spread a disease in winter when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo propaga una noticia por el pueblo. — Right: Yo propago una noticia por el pueblo. — The person matters: propaga is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is propago. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Espero que yo propage una noticia por el pueblo. — Right: Espero que yo propague una noticia por el pueblo. — Spelling change: this verb is a -gar verb: g becomes gu before e, so the preterite first person is propagué and the present subjunctive is propague, so the present subjunctive is propague, never propage.
- Wrong: Treating propagar and difundir as identical in every context. — Right: Propagar means to spread, to propagate, while difundir means to spread, to broadcast. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: propagar fits sentences such as Propago una noticia por el pueblo, while difundir belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy propagado una enfermedad en invierno. — Right: Yo he propagado una enfermedad en invierno. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he propagado, has propagado, ha propagado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo propagué un rumor en la oficina todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo propagaba un rumor en la oficina todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (propagaba), not the preterite. The preterite (propagué) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on propagar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ una noticia por el pueblo. (present tense) A. propago B. propagas C. propaga D. propagamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ una enfermedad en invierno. (preterite) A. propagué B. propagaste C. propagamos D. propagó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ un rumor en la oficina. (imperfect) A. propagabas B. propago C. propagábamos D. propagaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ plantas en el jardín. (future) A. propagaremos B. propagarás C. propagaré D. propagará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ una noticia por el pueblo si pudiera. (conditional) A. propagaría B. propagarías C. propagaríamos D. propago
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ una enfermedad en invierno. (present subjunctive) A. propagues B. propaguemos C. propago D. propague
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ un rumor en la oficina, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. propagáramos B. propago C. propagara D. propagaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ plantas en el jardín. (present perfect) A. ha propagado B. hemos propagado C. he propagado D. has propagado
Complete the command: ¡___ una noticia por el pueblo! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. propaga B. propague C. propaguemos D. propagad
Which is the gerund of propagar, used with estar for the progressive? A. propagado B. propago C. propagué D. propagando
Answer key
- propago — The yo present tense of propagar is propago.
- propagó — The él/ella/Ud. preterite of propagar is propagó.
- propagábamos — The nosotros/as imperfect of propagar is propagábamos.
- propagarás — The tú future of propagar is propagarás.
- propagaría — The yo conditional of propagar is propagaría.
- propague — The él/ella/Ud. present subjunctive of propagar is propague.
- propagara — The yo imperfect subjunctive, -ra form of propagar is propagara.
- hemos propagado — The nosotros/as present perfect of propagar is hemos propagado.
- propaga — The affirmative tú imperative of propagar is propaga.
- propagando — The gerund of propagar is propagando: estoy propagando. The participle propagado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does propagar mean in English?
Propagar means to spread, to propagate. It is used in everyday situations such as Propago una noticia por el pueblo. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is propagar regular or irregular?
Propagar is a spelling-change verb: it is a -gar verb: g becomes gu before e, so the preterite first person is propagué and the present subjunctive is propague. The endings are regular, so once you know the pattern you can produce every form on this page, including propago in the present and propagué in the preterite.
What is the difference between propagar and difundir?
Propagar means to spread, to propagate, while difundir means to spread, to broadcast. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use propagar when you mean to spread, to propagate, as in Propago una noticia por el pueblo, and use difundir for to spread, to broadcast. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I spread” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo propagué una enfermedad en invierno. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo propagaba un rumor en la oficina. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he propagado una enfermedad en invierno.
How do I practise propagar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the propagar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Propagar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for propagar.
- Propagar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for propagar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Complete list of Spanish irregular verbs — where this verb's pattern is listed.
- Pronosticar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with propagar.
- Prolongar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with propagar.
- Prosperar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with propagar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.