Complete List of Spanish Irregular Verbs

Spanish has a small set of irregular verbs, and they are the verbs you use most: ser, estar, ir, haber, tener, hacer, poder, decir, venir, poner, saber, salir. That is the good news and the bad news at once — you cannot avoid them, but learning them pays off in almost every sentence you say. This page lists every irregular verb in VerbFlow’s verified tables — 96 verbs — grouped by the pattern that makes them irregular, with a one-line note on each and a link to its full conjugation page. Learn the groups, not the list: a verb that follows the same pattern as one you already know costs almost nothing to learn.

What makes a verb irregular?

A verb is irregular when at least one of its forms cannot be built by adding the regular endings to the stem. Some verbs break the rules in one tense only — escribir is regular everywhere except its participle, escrito. Some break them in several tenses — tener is irregular in the present (tengo), the preterite (tuve) and the future (tendré). And four verbs — ser, estar, ir and haber — are irregular almost everywhere. The patterns below are the ones the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) uses to describe them, and the forms on this page come from VerbFlow’s verified tables, cross-checked against Reverso and SpanishDict.

Totally irregular (4 verbs)

  • ser — to be (identity, traits). totally irregular The most irregular verb in the language: ser and ir share the preterite, and the present is unique.
  • ir — to go. totally irregular Totally irregular: the present comes from Latin vadere, the past from ser's past, and the gerund is yendo.
  • haber — to have (auxiliary). totally irregular The auxiliary for every compound tense, and the impersonal hay (there is / there are).
  • estar — to be (state, place). totally irregular Use estar for states, locations and temporary conditions — ser is for identity and traits.

Go-verbs with an irregular preterite and future (41 verbs)

  • tener — to have. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Go-verb in the present (tengo), tuv- in the preterite, tendr- in the future — and the gerund keeps its e: teniendo.
  • hacer — to do, to make. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Hago in the present, hice in the preterite, har- in the future, and the participle is hecho.
  • poner — to put, to place. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Pongo in the present, puse in the preterite, pondr- in the future, and the participle is puesto.
  • venir — to come. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Vengo in the present, vine in the preterite, vendr- in the future — and the gerund is viniendo.
  • decir — to say, to tell. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Digo in the present, dije in the preterite, dir- in the future, and the participle is dicho.
  • traer — to bring. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular gerund and participle Traigo in the present, traje in the preterite, traiga in the subjunctive — gerund trayendo, participle traído.
  • caber — to fit (in a space). go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Quepo in the present, cupe in the preterite, cabr- in the future, quepa in the subjunctive.
  • satisfacer — to satisfy. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Like hacer with the satis- prefix: satisfago, satisfice, satisfará, satisfaga — participle satisfecho.
  • contener — to contain. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Same pattern as tener: contengo, contuve, contendré, contenga.
  • detener — to stop, to detain. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Same pattern as tener: detengo, detuve, detendré, detenga.
  • mantener — to maintain, to keep. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Same pattern as tener: mantengo, mantuve, mantendré, mantenga.
  • obtener — to obtain, to get. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Same pattern as tener: obtengo, obtuve, obtendré, obtenga.
  • retener — to retain, to hold back. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Same pattern as tener: retengo, retuve, retendré, retenga.
  • sostener — to sustain, to hold up. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Same pattern as tener: sostengo, sostuve, sostendré, sostenga.
  • entretener — to entertain. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Same pattern as tener: entretengo, entretuve, entretendré, entretenga.
  • abstener — to abstain. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Same pattern as tener: abstengo, abstuve, abstendré, abstenga. (Full conjugation page coming soon.)
  • convenir — to agree, to suit. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Same pattern as venir: convengo, convine, convendré, convenga.
  • prevenir — to prevent, to warn. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Same pattern as venir: prevengo, previne, prevendré, prevenga.
  • intervenir — to intervene. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Same pattern as venir: intervengo, intervine, intervendré, intervenga.
  • provenir — to come from. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Same pattern as venir: provengo, provine, provendré, provenga.
  • componer — to compose, to fix. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Same pattern as poner: compongo, compuse, compondré, componga — participle compuesto.
  • disponer — to arrange, to have available. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Same pattern as poner: dispongo, dispuse, dispondré, disponga — participle dispuesto.
  • exponer — to expose, to exhibit. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Same pattern as poner: expongo, expuse, expondré, exponga — participle expuesto.
  • imponer — to impose. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Same pattern as poner: impongo, impuse, impondré, imponga — participle impuesto.
  • oponer — to oppose. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Same pattern as poner: opongo, opuse, opondré, oponga — participle opuesto.
  • proponer — to propose. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Same pattern as poner: propongo, propuse, propondré, proponga — participle propuesto.
  • reponer — to replace, to restock. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Same pattern as poner: repongo, repuse, repondré, reponga — participle repuesto.
  • suponer — to suppose, to assume. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Same pattern as poner: supongo, supuse, supondré, suponga — participle supuesto.
  • recomponer — to mend, to put back together. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Same pattern as poner: recompongo, recompuse, recompondré, recomponga — participle recompuesto.
  • predecir — to predict. go-verb + irregular preterite Same pattern as decir except the future is regular (predeciré) — participle predicho.
  • bendecir — to bless. go-verb + irregular preterite Same pattern as decir except the future is regular (bendeciré).
  • maldecir — to curse. go-verb + irregular preterite Same pattern as decir except the future is regular (maldeciré).
  • contradecir — to contradict. go-verb + irregular preterite Same pattern as decir except the future is regular (contradeciré) — participle contradicho.
  • deshacer — to undo, to take apart. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Same pattern as hacer: deshago, deshice, desharé, deshaga — participle deshecho.
  • rehacer — to redo, to remake. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Same pattern as hacer: rehago, rehice, reharé, rehaga — participle rehecho.
  • atraer — to attract. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular gerund and participle Same pattern as traer: atraigo, atraje, atraiga — gerund atrayendo, participle atraído.
  • contraer — to contract (a debt, a disease). go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular gerund and participle Same pattern as traer: contraigo, contraje, contraiga — gerund contrayendo, participle contraído.
  • distraer — to distract. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular gerund and participle Same pattern as traer: distraigo, distraje, distraiga — gerund distrayendo, participle distraído.
  • extraer — to extract. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular gerund and participle Same pattern as traer: extraigo, extraje, extraiga — gerund extrayendo, participle extraído.
  • retraer — to retract. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular gerund and participle Same pattern as traer: retraigo, retraje, retraiga — gerund retrayendo, participle retraído.
  • sustraer — to subtract, to steal. go-verb + irregular preterite + irregular gerund and participle Same pattern as traer: sustraigo, sustraje, sustraiga — gerund sustrayendo, participle sustraído.

Go-verbs with an irregular future stem (4 verbs)

  • salir — to leave, to go out. go-verb + irregular future stem Salgo in the present, saldr- in the future, salga in the subjunctive.
  • valer — to be worth, to cost. go-verb + irregular future stem Valgo in the present, valdr- in the future, valga in the subjunctive.
  • sobresalir — to stand out. go-verb + irregular future stem Same pattern as salir: sobresalgo, sobresaldré, sobresalga.
  • equivaler — to be equivalent to. go-verb + irregular future stem Same pattern as valer: equivalgo, equivaldré, equivalga.

Go-verbs with y-insertion or an irregular gerund (4 verbs)

  • oír — to hear. go-verb + y-insertion + irregular gerund and participle Oigo in the present, oyó in the preterite, oiga in the subjunctive — gerund oyendo, participle oído.
  • caer — to fall. go-verb + y-insertion Caigo in the present, cayó in the preterite, caiga in the subjunctive.
  • decaer — to decline, to weaken. go-verb + y-insertion Same pattern as caer: decaigo, decayó, decaiga.
  • recaer — to relapse, to fall again. go-verb + y-insertion Same pattern as caer: recaigo, recayó, recaiga.

Stem-changing verbs (5 verbs)

  • oler — to smell. o → ue stem change + h- in stressed forms Huelo, hueles, huele — the stressed forms gain an h (huelo, not *uelo); olemos and oléis keep the plain stem.
  • reír — to laugh. e → i stem change + accented stem vowel Río, ríes, ríe — the stem vowel carries the accent, and the gerund is riendo.
  • sonreír — to smile. e → i stem change + accented stem vowel Same pattern as reír, with the son- prefix: sonrío, sonrió, sonriendo.
  • freír — to fry. e → i stem change + accented stem vowel Frío, frió, friendo — and the participle is frito, not freído.
  • sofreír — to fry lightly, to sauté. e → i stem change + accented stem vowel Same pattern as freír, with the so- prefix: sofrío, sofrió, sofriendo — participle sofrito.

Stem change + irregular preterite or future (10 verbs)

  • poder — to be able to, can. o → ue stem change + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Stem-changing in the present (puedo), pud- in the preterite, podr- in the future.
  • querer — to want, to love. e → ie stem change + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Stem-changing in the present (quiero), quise in the preterite, querr- in the future.
  • volver — to return, to come back. o → ue stem change + irregular past participle Stem-changing in the present (vuelvo) and the participle is vuelto.
  • devolver — to return (something). o → ue stem change + irregular past participle Stem-changing in the present (devuelvo) and the participle is devuelto.
  • envolver — to wrap. o → ue stem change + irregular past participle Stem-changing in the present (envuelvo) and the participle is envuelto.
  • revolver — to stir, to turn over. o → ue stem change + irregular past participle Stem-changing in the present (revuelvo) and the participle is revuelto.
  • morir — to die. o → ue stem change + irregular past participle Stem-changing (muero, murió, muriendo) and the participle is muerto.
  • resolver — to solve, to resolve. o → ue stem change + irregular past participle Stem-changing in the present only (resuelvo — the preterite keeps its o: resolvió) and the participle is resuelto.
  • absolver — to absolve. o → ue stem change + irregular past participle Stem-changing in the present only (absuelvo — the preterite keeps its o: absolvió) and the participle is absuelto.
  • disolver — to dissolve. o → ue stem change + irregular past participle Stem-changing in the present only (disuelvo — the preterite keeps its o: disolvió) and the participle is disuelto.

Spelling-change verbs (1 verb)

  • conocer — to know (a person, a place). c → zc spelling change Only the spelling changes: conozco, conozca. Everything else is regular — saber is for facts.

Spelling change + irregular preterite (9 verbs)

  • conducir — to drive, to lead. c → zc spelling change + irregular preterite Conduzco in the present, conduje in the preterite — the -ducir family all takes -duje.
  • producir — to produce. c → zc spelling change + irregular preterite Produzco in the present, produje in the preterite.
  • traducir — to translate. c → zc spelling change + irregular preterite Traduzco in the present, traduje in the preterite.
  • deducir — to deduce. c → zc spelling change + irregular preterite Deduzco in the present, deduje in the preterite.
  • introducir — to introduce, to insert. c → zc spelling change + irregular preterite Introduzco in the present, introduje in the preterite.
  • reducir — to reduce. c → zc spelling change + irregular preterite Reduzco in the present, reduje in the preterite.
  • reproducir — to reproduce. c → zc spelling change + irregular preterite Reproduzco in the present, reproduje in the preterite.
  • inducir — to induce. c → zc spelling change + irregular preterite Induzco in the present, induje in the preterite.
  • aducir — to adduce, to cite. c → zc spelling change + irregular preterite Aduzco in the present, aduje in the preterite.

Irregular present or future stem (5 verbs)

  • saber — to know (a fact, how to). irregular present + irregular preterite + irregular future stem Sé in the present, supe in the preterite, sabr- in the future, sepa in the subjunctive.
  • dar — to give. irregular present + irregular preterite Doy in the present, di in the preterite (no accents), dé in the subjunctive.
  • ver — to see. irregular present + irregular preterite Veo in the present, vi in the preterite, veía in the imperfect, vea in the subjunctive, and the participle is visto.
  • prever — to foresee, to predict. irregular present + irregular preterite Like ver with the pre- prefix, but the stem vowel is stressed: preveo, prevés, prevé — participle previsto.
  • entrever — to glimpse, to make out. irregular present + irregular preterite Like ver with the entre- prefix: entreveo, entrevés, entrevé — participle entrevisto.

Irregular preterite only (1 verb)

  • andar — to walk, to go (around). irregular preterite only Regular everywhere except the preterite, which uses anduv- (like estar's estuv-).

Irregular past participle (12 verbs)

  • escribir — to write. irregular past participle Regular in every tense — only the participle is irregular: escrito.
  • describir — to describe. irregular past participle Regular in every tense — only the participle is irregular: descrito.
  • prescribir — to prescribe. irregular past participle Regular in every tense — only the participle is irregular: prescrito. (Full conjugation page coming soon.)
  • suscribir — to subscribe. irregular past participle Regular in every tense — only the participle is irregular: suscrito. (Full conjugation page coming soon.)
  • transcribir — to transcribe. irregular past participle Regular in every tense — only the participle is irregular: transcrito. (Full conjugation page coming soon.)
  • inscribir — to inscribe. irregular past participle Regular in every tense — only the participle is irregular: inscrito. (Full conjugation page coming soon.)
  • abrir — to open. irregular past participle Regular in every tense — only the participle is irregular: abierto.
  • cubrir — to cover. irregular past participle Regular in every tense — only the participle is irregular: cubierto.
  • descubrir — to discover. irregular past participle Regular in every tense — only the participle is irregular: descubierto.
  • romper — to break. irregular past participle Regular in every tense — only the participle is irregular: roto.
  • proveer — to provide, to supply. irregular past participle Regular in every tense — only the participle is irregular: provisto.
  • imprimir — to print. irregular past participle Regular in every tense — only the participle is irregular: impreso.

How to learn the irregular verbs

Do not try to memorise the list from top to bottom. Work in groups of five, one pattern at a time, and always in sentences. Start with the four totally irregular verbs — ser, estar, ir, haber — because they appear in almost every conversation. Then take the go-verbs: learn tengo, hago, pongo, salgo, vengo, digo together, as one sound pattern, and the rest of each verb follows the normal endings. Then the stem-changing verbs, in their three families: e → ie, o → ue and e → i. Say each set aloud in order — yo, tú, él, nosotros, vosotros, ellos — three times, then write three sentences with the verb. Test yourself the next day before you learn the next group, and use the Irregular Verb Quiz and the Irregular Verb Finder to check what has stuck. A verb you can use in a sentence is learnt; a verb you can only recite is not.

Quiz: Spanish irregular verbs

Eight questions on the irregular verbs. Answers with explanations follow each question.

1. What is the yo form of ser in the present tense?

  • A) soy
  • B) eres
  • C) es
  • D) somos

Answer: A — The yo form in the present tense is soy.

2. What is the yo form of tener in the preterite?

  • A) tuviste
  • B) tuvo
  • C) tuvimos
  • D) tuve

Answer: D — The yo form in the preterite is tuve.

3. What is the yo form of hacer in the present tense?

  • A) hace
  • B) hacemos
  • C) hago
  • D) haces

Answer: C — The yo form in the present tense is hago.

4. What is the él/ella/Ud. form of decir in the preterite?

  • A) dijimos
  • B) dijo
  • C) dije
  • D) dijiste

Answer: B — The él/ella/Ud. form in the preterite is dijo.

5. What is the nosotros/as form of ir in the preterite?

  • A) fuimos
  • B) fui
  • C) fuiste
  • D) fue

Answer: A — The nosotros/as form in the preterite is fuimos.

6. What is the yo form of saber in the present tense?

  • A) sabes
  • B) sabe
  • C) sabemos
  • D) sé

Answer: D — The yo form in the present tense is sé.

7. Which sentence is correct?

  • A) Yo podo hablar español.
  • B) Yo puedo hablar español.

Answer: B — Poder changes o to ue in the stressed present forms: puedo.

8. Which sentence is correct?

  • A) He escrito una carta.
  • B) He escribido una carta.

Answer: A — The participle of escribir is escrito, not escribido.

Frequently asked questions

How many irregular verbs are there in Spanish?

It depends on how you count. VerbFlow’s verified tables list 96 verbs with at least one irregular form, from the four totally irregular verbs to verbs like escribir, which is regular except for its participle escrito. The important number is smaller: about twenty verbs cover almost all the irregular forms you will ever need.

Should I learn the irregular verbs first?

Learn the four totally irregular verbs first — ser, estar, ir, haber — because they appear in almost every sentence. Then learn the regular patterns with verbs like hablar, comer and vivir, and add the irregular groups one at a time: go-verbs, stem-changing verbs, and the irregular preterites. The Spanish Verb Quiz lets you drill one group at a time.

What is a go-verb?

A verb whose yo form in the present ends in -go: tengo, hago, pongo, salgo, vengo, digo, oigo, traigo, caigo, valgo. Only the yo form changes; the other persons follow the normal pattern, except where a stem change also applies. The name comes from the sound, not from the verb ir (to go).

Why do ser and ir share the same preterite?

History: both verbs come from Latin verbs whose past forms merged centuries ago, and Spanish never separated them again. Fui, fuiste, fue can mean either “I was” or “I went” — only the context tells you which. It is confusing at first, and every learner meets it, so it is worth learning early.

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