Retraer Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb retraer means to retract, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Retraer means to retract, and it is used for retracting a statement, withdrawing an offer and pulling back a part of the body. It follows the pattern of traer, with the present retraigo, the preterite retraje, the gerund retrayendo and the participle retraído. Like every Spanish verb, retraer 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 retraigo sus palabras después del debate, and in the preterite you say retraje la mano con cuidado. 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: retraer
  • English: to retract
  • Verb type: irregular verb
  • Ending: -er
  • Gerund: retrayendo
  • Past participle: retraído
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + retraído)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for retraer, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Retraer follows traer: the present is retraigo, the preterite is retraje, and the participle is retraído.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for retraer. 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 retraigo
tú retraes
él/ella/Ud. retrae
nosotros/as retraemos
vosotros/as retraéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. retraen

Preterite

Person Form
yo retraje
tú retrajiste
él/ella/Ud. retrajo
nosotros/as retrajimos
vosotros/as retrajisteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. retrajeron

Imperfect

Person Form
yo retraía
tú retraías
él/ella/Ud. retraía
nosotros/as retraíamos
vosotros/as retraíais
ellos/ellas/Uds. retraían

Future

Person Form
yo retraeré
tú retraerás
él/ella/Ud. retraerá
nosotros/as retraeremos
vosotros/as retraeréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. retraerán

Conditional

Person Form
yo retraería
tú retraerías
él/ella/Ud. retraería
nosotros/as retraeríamos
vosotros/as retraeríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. retraerían

Present perfect

Person Form
yo he retraído
tú has retraído
él/ella/Ud. ha retraído
nosotros/as hemos retraído
vosotros/as habéis retraído
ellos/ellas/Uds. han retraído

Pluperfect

Person Form
yo había retraído
tú habías retraído
él/ella/Ud. había retraído
nosotros/as habíamos retraído
vosotros/as habíais retraído
ellos/ellas/Uds. habían retraído

Future perfect

Person Form
yo habré retraído
tú habrás retraído
él/ella/Ud. habrá retraído
nosotros/as habremos retraído
vosotros/as habréis retraído
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrán retraído

Conditional perfect

Person Form
yo habría retraído
tú habrías retraído
él/ella/Ud. habría retraído
nosotros/as habríamos retraído
vosotros/as habríais retraído
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrían retraído

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo retraiga
tú retraigas
él/ella/Ud. retraiga
nosotros/as retraigamos
vosotros/as retraigáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. retraigan

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo retrajera
tú retrajeras
él/ella/Ud. retrajera
nosotros/as retrajéramos
vosotros/as retrajerais
ellos/ellas/Uds. retrajeran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú retrae
él/ella/Ud. retraiga
nosotros/as retraigamos
vosotros/as retraed
ellos/ellas/Uds. retraigan

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú retraigas
él/ella/Ud. retraiga
nosotros/as retraigamos
vosotros/as retraigáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. retraigan

Gerund and past participle

Form Spanish Use
Gerund retrayendo with estar for the progressive: estoy retrayendo
Past participle retraído with haber for the perfect tenses: he retraído

How to use each tense

Present indicative

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of traer, with a -g- in the present (as in atraigo), a -j- stem in the preterite (as in atraje), the gerund in -yendo (as in atrayendo), and the participle in -ído (as in atraído). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For retraer, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Retraigo sus palabras después del debate. 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of traer, with a -g- in the present (as in atraigo), a -j- stem in the preterite (as in atraje), the gerund in -yendo (as in atrayendo), and the participle in -ído (as in atraído). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For retraer, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, retraje la oferta antes de firmar. 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 retraer, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, retraía la mano con cuidado. 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 retraer, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, retraeré la denuncia en el juzgado. 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 retraer, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Retraería sus palabras después del debate 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. This tense is irregular for this verb only because the past participle is retraído, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For retraer, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he retraído la oferta antes de firmar. 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. This tense is irregular for this verb only because the past participle is retraído, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For retraer, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había retraído la mano con cuidado 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. This tense is irregular for this verb only because the past participle is retraído, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For retraer, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré retraído la denuncia en el juzgado. 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. This tense is irregular for this verb only because the past participle is retraído, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For retraer, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría retraído sus palabras después del debate 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of traer, with a -g- in the present (as in atraigo), a -j- stem in the preterite (as in atraje), the gerund in -yendo (as in atrayendo), and the participle in -ído (as in atraído). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For retraer, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él retraiga la oferta antes de firmar. 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of traer, with a -g- in the present (as in atraigo), a -j- stem in the preterite (as in atraje), the gerund in -yendo (as in atrayendo), and the participle in -ído (as in atraído). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For retraer, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él retrajera la mano con cuidado, 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of traer, with a -g- in the present (as in atraigo), a -j- stem in the preterite (as in atraje), the gerund in -yendo (as in atrayendo), and the participle in -ído (as in atraído). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For retraer, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Retrae la denuncia en el juzgado! 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of traer, with a -g- in the present (as in atraigo), a -j- stem in the preterite (as in atraje), the gerund in -yendo (as in atrayendo), and the participle in -ído (as in atraído). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For retraer, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No retraigas sus palabras después del debate. 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 retraer, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Retraigo sus palabras después del debate. — I retract his words after the debate.
  2. Retrae la oferta antes de firmar. — He/she retracts the offer before signing.
  3. Ayer, retraje la mano con cuidado. — Yesterday, I retracted my hand carefully.
  4. Antes, nosotros retraíamos la denuncia en el juzgado. — Before, we used to retract the complaint in court.
  5. Mañana, tú retraerás sus palabras después del debate. — Tomorrow, you will retract his words after the debate.
  6. Yo retraería la oferta antes de firmar si tuviera más tiempo. — I would retract the offer before signing if I had more time.
  7. Él ha retraído la mano con cuidado. — He has retracted my hand carefully.
  8. Espero que él retraiga la denuncia en el juzgado. — I hope he retracts the complaint in court.
  9. Yo ya había retraído sus palabras después del debate antes de salir. — I had already retracted his words after the debate before leaving.
  10. Ellos retraían la oferta antes de firmar cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to retract the offer before signing when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo retrae sus palabras después del debate. — Right: Yo retraigo sus palabras después del debate. — The person matters: retrae is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is retraigo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
  2. Wrong: Ayer yo retraí la oferta antes de firmar. — Right: Ayer yo retraje la oferta antes de firmar. — Retraer has an irregular preterite: the correct first-person form is retraje, not the regular retraí. Learn the preterite forms in the table as a set.
  3. Wrong: Treating retraer and retirar as identical in every context. — Right: Retraer means to retract, while retirar means to withdraw. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: retraer fits sentences such as Retraigo sus palabras después del debate, while retirar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy retraído la oferta antes de firmar. — Right: Yo he retraído la oferta antes de firmar. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he retraído, has retraído, ha retraído. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo retraje la mano con cuidado todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo retraía la mano con cuidado todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (retraía), not the preterite. The preterite (retraje) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

Ten questions on retraer. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ sus palabras después del debate. (present tense) A. retraigo B. retraes C. retrae D. retraemos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ la oferta antes de firmar. (preterite) A. retraje B. retrajiste C. retrajeron D. retrajo

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ la mano con cuidado. (imperfect) A. retraías B. retraían C. retraíamos D. retraía

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ la denuncia en el juzgado. (future) A. retraeremos B. retraerás C. retraeré D. retraerá

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ sus palabras después del debate si pudiera. (conditional) A. retraería B. retraerías C. retraerían D. retraigo

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ la oferta antes de firmar. (present subjunctive) A. retraigas B. retraigamos C. retraigo D. retraiga

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ la mano con cuidado, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. retrajéramos B. retraigo C. retrajera D. retrajeras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ la denuncia en el juzgado. (present perfect) A. han retraído B. hemos retraído C. he retraído D. has retraído

  9. Complete the command: ¡___ sus palabras después del debate! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. retrae B. retraiga C. retraigamos D. retraed

  10. Which is the gerund of retraer, used with estar for the progressive? A. retraído B. retraigo C. retraje D. retrayendo

Answer key

  1. retraigo — The first-person present of retraer is retraigo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. retrajo — The third-person preterite of retraer is retrajo, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. retraíamos — The nosotros imperfect of retraer is retraíamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. retraerás — The second-person future of retraer is retraerás.
  5. retraería — The first-person conditional of retraer is retraería, the form for what would happen.
  6. retraiga — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of retraer is retraiga.
  7. retrajera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of retraer is retrajera.
  8. hemos retraído — The nosotros present perfect of retraer is hemos retraído: hemos + retraído.
  9. retrae — The affirmative tú imperative of retraer is retrae.
  10. retrayendo — The gerund of retraer is retrayendo: estoy retrayendo. The participle retraído is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does retraer mean in English?

Retraer means to retract. It is used in everyday situations such as Retraigo sus palabras después del debate. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is retraer regular or irregular?

Retraer is irregular in present, preterite, present-subjunctive, imperfect-subjunctive, gerund, past-participle, present-perfect, pluperfect, future-perfect, conditional-perfect, imperative-affirmative, imperative-negative. The other tenses follow the regular pattern. Learn the irregular forms from the tables above rather than guessing them from the infinitive.

What is the difference between retraer and retirar?

Retraer means to retract, while retirar means to withdraw. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use retraer when you mean to retract, as in Retraigo sus palabras después del debate, and use retirar for to withdraw. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I retract” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo retraje la oferta antes de firmar. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo retraía la mano con cuidado. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he retraído la oferta antes de firmar.

How do I practise retraer?

Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the retraer examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.

Related links