Simbolizar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb simbolizar means to symbolise, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Simbolizar means to symbolise, and it covers a dove symbolising peace, a ring symbolising love and an event symbolising a new stage in life. It is a spelling-change verb: the z becomes c before e, so the preterite is simbolicé. Like every Spanish verb, simbolizar 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 simbolizo la paz en todo el mundo, and in the preterite you say simbolicé el amor con un anillo. 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: simbolizar
- English: to symbolise
- Verb type: irregular verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: simbolizando
- Past participle: simbolizado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + simbolizado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for simbolizar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Spelling change: z becomes c before e, so the preterite is simbolicé and the subjunctive is simbolice.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for simbolizar. 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 | simbolizo |
| tú | simbolizas |
| él/ella/Ud. | simboliza |
| nosotros/as | simbolizamos |
| vosotros/as | simbolizáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | simbolizan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | simbolicé |
| tú | simbolizaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | simbolizó |
| nosotros/as | simbolizamos |
| vosotros/as | simbolizasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | simbolizaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | simbolizaba |
| tú | simbolizabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | simbolizaba |
| nosotros/as | simbolizábamos |
| vosotros/as | simbolizabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | simbolizaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | simbolizaré |
| tú | simbolizarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | simbolizará |
| nosotros/as | simbolizaremos |
| vosotros/as | simbolizaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | simbolizarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | simbolizaría |
| tú | simbolizarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | simbolizaría |
| nosotros/as | simbolizaríamos |
| vosotros/as | simbolizaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | simbolizarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he simbolizado |
| tú | has simbolizado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha simbolizado |
| nosotros/as | hemos simbolizado |
| vosotros/as | habéis simbolizado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han simbolizado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había simbolizado |
| tú | habías simbolizado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había simbolizado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos simbolizado |
| vosotros/as | habíais simbolizado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían simbolizado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré simbolizado |
| tú | habrás simbolizado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá simbolizado |
| nosotros/as | habremos simbolizado |
| vosotros/as | habréis simbolizado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán simbolizado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría simbolizado |
| tú | habrías simbolizado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría simbolizado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos simbolizado |
| vosotros/as | habríais simbolizado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían simbolizado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | simbolice |
| tú | simbolices |
| él/ella/Ud. | simbolice |
| nosotros/as | simbolicemos |
| vosotros/as | simbolicéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | simbolicen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | simbolizara |
| tú | simbolizaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | simbolizara |
| nosotros/as | simbolizáramos |
| vosotros/as | simbolizarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | simbolizaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | simboliza |
| él/ella/Ud. | simbolice |
| nosotros/as | simbolicemos |
| vosotros/as | simbolizad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | simbolicen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | simbolices |
| él/ella/Ud. | simbolice |
| nosotros/as | simbolicemos |
| vosotros/as | simbolicéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | simbolicen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | simbolizando | with estar for the progressive: estoy simbolizando |
| Past participle | simbolizado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he simbolizado |
How to use each tense
Present indicative
Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. Note the spelling change here: z becomes c before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For simbolizar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Simbolizo la paz en todo el mundo. 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 in the first person: z becomes c before e, so the preterite first person is simbolicé. For simbolizar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, simbolicé la libertad para el pueblo. 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 simbolizar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, simbolizaba el amor con un anillo. 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 simbolizar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, simbolizaré una nueva etapa en su vida. 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 simbolizar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Simbolizaría la paz en todo el mundo 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 simbolizar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he simbolizado la libertad para el pueblo. 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 simbolizar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había simbolizado el amor con un anillo 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 simbolizar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré simbolizado una nueva etapa en su vida. 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 simbolizar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría simbolizado la paz en todo el mundo 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: z becomes c before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For simbolizar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él simbolice la libertad para el pueblo. 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 simbolizar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él simbolizara el amor con un anillo, 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: z becomes c before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For simbolizar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Simboliza una nueva etapa en su vida! 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: z becomes c before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For simbolizar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No simbolices la paz en todo el mundo. 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 simbolizar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Simbolizo la paz en todo el mundo. — I symbolise peace all over the world.
- Simboliza la libertad para el pueblo. — He/she symbolises freedom for the people.
- Ayer, simbolicé el amor con un anillo. — Yesterday, I symbolised love with a ring.
- Antes, nosotros simbolizábamos una nueva etapa en su vida. — Before, we used to symbolise a new stage in his life.
- Mañana, tú simbolizarás la paz en todo el mundo. — Tomorrow, you will symbolise peace all over the world.
- Yo simbolizaría la libertad para el pueblo si tuviera más tiempo. — I would symbolise freedom for the people if I had more time.
- Él ha simbolizado el amor con un anillo. — He has symbolised love with a ring.
- Espero que él simbolice una nueva etapa en su vida. — I hope he symbolises a new stage in his life.
- Yo ya había simbolizado la paz en todo el mundo antes de salir. — I had already symbolised peace all over the world before leaving.
- Ellos simbolizaban la libertad para el pueblo cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to symbolise freedom for the people when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo simboliza la paz en todo el mundo. — Right: Yo simbolizo la paz en todo el mundo. — The person matters: simboliza is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is simbolizo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Yo simbolizé la libertad para el pueblo. — Right: Yo simbolicé la libertad para el pueblo. — In the preterite, the correct first-person form is simbolicé, not simbolizé. simbolizar is a spelling-change verb: z becomes c before e, so the written form changes to keep the same sound. The regular-looking form is wrong.
- Wrong: Treating simbolizar and representar as identical in every context. — Right: Simbolizar means to symbolise, while representar means to represent, the close verb. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: simbolizar fits sentences such as Simbolizo la paz en todo el mundo, while representar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy simbolizado la libertad para el pueblo. — Right: Yo he simbolizado la libertad para el pueblo. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he simbolizado, has simbolizado, ha simbolizado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo simbolicé el amor con un anillo todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo simbolizaba el amor con un anillo todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (simbolizaba), not the preterite. The preterite (simbolicé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on simbolizar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la paz en todo el mundo. (present tense) A. simbolizo B. simbolizas C. simboliza D. simbolizamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ la libertad para el pueblo. (preterite) A. simbolicé B. simbolizaste C. simbolizaron D. simbolizó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ el amor con un anillo. (imperfect) A. simbolizabas B. simbolizaban C. simbolizábamos D. simbolizaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ una nueva etapa en su vida. (future) A. simbolizaremos B. simbolizarás C. simbolizaré D. simbolizará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la paz en todo el mundo si pudiera. (conditional) A. simbolizaría B. simbolizarías C. simbolizarían D. simbolizo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ la libertad para el pueblo. (present subjunctive) A. simbolices B. simbolicemos C. simbolizo D. simbolice
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ el amor con un anillo, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. simbolizáramos B. simbolizo C. simbolizara D. simbolizaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ una nueva etapa en su vida. (present perfect) A. han simbolizado B. hemos simbolizado C. he simbolizado D. has simbolizado
Complete the command: ¡___ la paz en todo el mundo! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. simboliza B. simbolice C. simbolicemos D. simbolizad
Which is the gerund of simbolizar, used with estar for the progressive? A. simbolizado B. simbolizo C. simbolicé D. simbolizando
Answer key
- simbolizo — The first-person present of simbolizar is simbolizo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- simbolizó — The third-person preterite of simbolizar is simbolizó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- simbolizábamos — The nosotros imperfect of simbolizar is simbolizábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- simbolizarás — The second-person future of simbolizar is simbolizarás.
- simbolizaría — The first-person conditional of simbolizar is simbolizaría, the form for what would happen.
- simbolice — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of simbolizar is simbolice.
- simbolizara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of simbolizar is simbolizara.
- hemos simbolizado — The nosotros present perfect of simbolizar is hemos simbolizado: hemos + simbolizado.
- simboliza — The affirmative tú imperative of simbolizar is simboliza.
- simbolizando — The gerund of simbolizar is simbolizando: estoy simbolizando. The participle simbolizado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does simbolizar mean in English?
Simbolizar means to symbolise. It is used in everyday situations such as Simbolizo la paz en todo el mundo. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is simbolizar regular or irregular?
Simbolizar is a fully regular -ar verb, so every tense follows the standard endings for its class. Once you know the regular pattern, you can produce every form on this page, including simbolizo in the present and simbolicé in the preterite.
What is the difference between simbolizar and representar?
Simbolizar means to symbolise, while representar means to represent, the close verb. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use simbolizar when you mean to symbolise, as in Simbolizo la paz en todo el mundo, and use representar for to represent, the close verb. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I symbolise” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo simbolicé la libertad para el pueblo. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo simbolizaba el amor con un anillo. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he simbolizado la libertad para el pueblo.
How do I practise simbolizar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the simbolizar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Simbolizar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for simbolizar.
- Simbolizar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for simbolizar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Bautizar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with simbolizar.
- Lanzar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with simbolizar.
- Analizar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with simbolizar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.