Sufrir Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb sufrir means to suffer, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Sufrir means to suffer, and it covers suffering an illness, a loss, heat and a defeat: sufrir una enfermedad, sufrir una derrota. It takes a direct object for what is suffered, and it is a regular -ir verb. Like every Spanish verb, sufrir 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 sufro una enfermedad grave, and in the preterite you say sufrí una derrota en la final. 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: sufrir
- English: to suffer
- Verb type: regular -ir verb
- Ending: -ir
- Gerund: sufriendo
- Past participle: sufrido
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + sufrido)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for sufrir, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Sufrir is regular: sufrí, sufría, sufriré. Sufrir de is to suffer from an illness: sufro de asma.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for sufrir. 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 | sufro |
| tú | sufres |
| él/ella/Ud. | sufre |
| nosotros/as | sufrimos |
| vosotros/as | sufrís |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | sufren |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | sufrí |
| tú | sufriste |
| él/ella/Ud. | sufrió |
| nosotros/as | sufrimos |
| vosotros/as | sufristeis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | sufrieron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | sufría |
| tú | sufrías |
| él/ella/Ud. | sufría |
| nosotros/as | sufríamos |
| vosotros/as | sufríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | sufrían |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | sufriré |
| tú | sufrirás |
| él/ella/Ud. | sufrirá |
| nosotros/as | sufriremos |
| vosotros/as | sufriréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | sufrirán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | sufriría |
| tú | sufrirías |
| él/ella/Ud. | sufriría |
| nosotros/as | sufriríamos |
| vosotros/as | sufriríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | sufrirían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he sufrido |
| tú | has sufrido |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha sufrido |
| nosotros/as | hemos sufrido |
| vosotros/as | habéis sufrido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han sufrido |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había sufrido |
| tú | habías sufrido |
| él/ella/Ud. | había sufrido |
| nosotros/as | habíamos sufrido |
| vosotros/as | habíais sufrido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían sufrido |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré sufrido |
| tú | habrás sufrido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá sufrido |
| nosotros/as | habremos sufrido |
| vosotros/as | habréis sufrido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán sufrido |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría sufrido |
| tú | habrías sufrido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría sufrido |
| nosotros/as | habríamos sufrido |
| vosotros/as | habríais sufrido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían sufrido |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | sufra |
| tú | sufras |
| él/ella/Ud. | sufra |
| nosotros/as | suframos |
| vosotros/as | sufráis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | sufran |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | sufriera |
| tú | sufrieras |
| él/ella/Ud. | sufriera |
| nosotros/as | sufriéramos |
| vosotros/as | sufrierais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | sufrieran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | sufre |
| él/ella/Ud. | sufra |
| nosotros/as | suframos |
| vosotros/as | sufrid |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | sufran |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | sufras |
| él/ella/Ud. | sufra |
| nosotros/as | suframos |
| vosotros/as | sufráis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | sufran |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | sufriendo | with estar for the progressive: estoy sufriendo |
| Past participle | sufrido | with haber for the perfect tenses: he sufrido |
How to use each tense
Present indicative
Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For sufrir, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Sufro una enfermedad grave. 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. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For sufrir, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, sufrí mucho con el calor. 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 sufrir, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, sufría una derrota en la final. 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 sufrir, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, sufriré la pérdida de su madre. 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 sufrir, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Sufriría una enfermedad grave 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 sufrir, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he sufrido mucho con el calor. 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 sufrir, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había sufrido una derrota en la final 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 sufrir, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré sufrido la pérdida de su madre. 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 sufrir, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría sufrido una enfermedad grave 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. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For sufrir, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él sufra mucho con el calor. 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 sufrir, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él sufriera una derrota en la final, 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. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For sufrir, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Sufre la pérdida de su madre! 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. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For sufrir, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No sufras una enfermedad grave. 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 sufrir, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Sufro una enfermedad grave. — I suffer a serious illness.
- Sufre mucho con el calor. — He/she suffers a lot with the heat.
- Ayer, sufrí una derrota en la final. — Yesterday, I suffered a defeat in the final.
- Antes, nosotros sufríamos la pérdida de su madre. — Before, we used to suffer the loss of his mother.
- Mañana, tú sufrirás una enfermedad grave. — Tomorrow, you will suffer a serious illness.
- Yo sufriría mucho con el calor si tuviera más tiempo. — I would suffer a lot with the heat if I had more time.
- Él ha sufrido una derrota en la final. — He has suffered a defeat in the final.
- Espero que él sufra la pérdida de su madre. — I hope he suffers the loss of his mother.
- Yo ya había sufrido una enfermedad grave antes de salir. — I had already suffered a serious illness before leaving.
- Ellos sufrían mucho con el calor cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to suffer a lot with the heat when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo sufre una enfermedad grave. — Right: Yo sufro una enfermedad grave. — The person matters: sufre is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is sufro. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Ayer yo sufro mucho con el calor. — Right: Ayer yo sufrí mucho con el calor. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: sufro is happening now, while sufrí is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
- Wrong: Treating sufrir and padecer as identical in every context. — Right: Sufrir means to suffer, while padecer means to suffer, more formal. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: sufrir fits sentences such as Sufro una enfermedad grave, while padecer belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy sufrido mucho con el calor. — Right: Yo he sufrido mucho con el calor. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he sufrido, has sufrido, ha sufrido. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo sufrí una derrota en la final todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo sufría una derrota en la final todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (sufría), not the preterite. The preterite (sufrí) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on sufrir. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ una enfermedad grave. (present tense) A. sufro B. sufres C. sufre D. sufrimos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ mucho con el calor. (preterite) A. sufrí B. sufriste C. sufrimos D. sufrió
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ una derrota en la final. (imperfect) A. sufrías B. sufro C. sufríamos D. sufría
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ la pérdida de su madre. (future) A. sufriremos B. sufrirás C. sufriré D. sufrirá
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ una enfermedad grave si pudiera. (conditional) A. sufriría B. sufrirías C. sufriríamos D. sufro
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ mucho con el calor. (present subjunctive) A. sufras B. suframos C. sufro D. sufra
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ una derrota en la final, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. sufriéramos B. sufro C. sufriera D. sufrieras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ la pérdida de su madre. (present perfect) A. ha sufrido B. hemos sufrido C. he sufrido D. has sufrido
Complete the command: ¡___ una enfermedad grave! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. sufre B. sufra C. suframos D. sufrid
Which is the gerund of sufrir, used with estar for the progressive? A. sufrido B. sufro C. sufrí D. sufriendo
Answer key
- sufro — The yo present tense of sufrir is sufro.
- sufrió — The él/ella/Ud. preterite of sufrir is sufrió.
- sufríamos — The nosotros/as imperfect of sufrir is sufríamos.
- sufrirás — The tú future of sufrir is sufrirás.
- sufriría — The yo conditional of sufrir is sufriría.
- sufra — The él/ella/Ud. present subjunctive of sufrir is sufra.
- sufriera — The yo imperfect subjunctive, -ra form of sufrir is sufriera.
- hemos sufrido — The nosotros/as present perfect of sufrir is hemos sufrido.
- sufre — The affirmative tú imperative of sufrir is sufre.
- sufriendo — The gerund of sufrir is sufriendo: estoy sufriendo. The participle sufrido is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does sufrir mean in English?
Sufrir means to suffer. It is used in everyday situations such as Sufro una enfermedad grave. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is sufrir regular or irregular?
Sufrir is a fully regular -ir 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 sufro in the present and sufrí in the preterite.
What is the difference between sufrir and padecer?
Sufrir means to suffer, while padecer means to suffer, more formal. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use sufrir when you mean to suffer, as in Sufro una enfermedad grave, and use padecer for to suffer, more formal. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I suffer” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo sufrí mucho con el calor. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo sufría una derrota en la final. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he sufrido mucho con el calor.
How do I practise sufrir?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the sufrir examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Sufrir in the present tense — the full present-tense table for sufrir.
- Sufrir examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for sufrir.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Rugir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with sufrir.
- Sumergir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with sufrir.
- Restituir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with sufrir.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.