Traducir Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb traducir means to translate, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Traducir means to translate, and it is used for translating books, documents, films and conversations from one language to another. It is a -ducir verb, with the present traduzco and the preterite traduje, and it is one of the most useful verbs for language learners. Like every Spanish verb, traducir 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 traduzco el libro del inglés al español, and in the preterite you say traduje la carta de su abuela. 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: traducir
- English: to translate
- Verb type: irregular verb
- Ending: -ir
- Gerund: traduciendo
- Past participle: traducido
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + traducido)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for traducir, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Traducir is a -ducir verb: the present is traduzco and the preterite is traduje. The subjunctive is traduzca.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for traducir. 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 | traduzco |
| tú | traduces |
| él/ella/Ud. | traduce |
| nosotros/as | traducimos |
| vosotros/as | traducís |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | traducen |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | traduje |
| tú | tradujiste |
| él/ella/Ud. | tradujo |
| nosotros/as | tradujimos |
| vosotros/as | tradujisteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | tradujeron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | traducía |
| tú | traducías |
| él/ella/Ud. | traducía |
| nosotros/as | traducíamos |
| vosotros/as | traducíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | traducían |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | traduciré |
| tú | traducirás |
| él/ella/Ud. | traducirá |
| nosotros/as | traduciremos |
| vosotros/as | traduciréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | traducirán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | traduciría |
| tú | traducirías |
| él/ella/Ud. | traduciría |
| nosotros/as | traduciríamos |
| vosotros/as | traduciríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | traducirían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he traducido |
| tú | has traducido |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha traducido |
| nosotros/as | hemos traducido |
| vosotros/as | habéis traducido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han traducido |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había traducido |
| tú | habías traducido |
| él/ella/Ud. | había traducido |
| nosotros/as | habíamos traducido |
| vosotros/as | habíais traducido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían traducido |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré traducido |
| tú | habrás traducido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá traducido |
| nosotros/as | habremos traducido |
| vosotros/as | habréis traducido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán traducido |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría traducido |
| tú | habrías traducido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría traducido |
| nosotros/as | habríamos traducido |
| vosotros/as | habríais traducido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían traducido |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | traduzca |
| tú | traduzcas |
| él/ella/Ud. | traduzca |
| nosotros/as | traduzcamos |
| vosotros/as | traducáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | traduzcan |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | tradujera |
| tú | tradujeras |
| él/ella/Ud. | tradujera |
| nosotros/as | tradujéramos |
| vosotros/as | tradujerais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | tradujeran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | traduce |
| él/ella/Ud. | traduzca |
| nosotros/as | traduzcamos |
| vosotros/as | traducid |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | traduzcan |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | traduzcas |
| él/ella/Ud. | traduzca |
| nosotros/as | traduzcamos |
| vosotros/as | traducáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | traduzcan |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | traduciendo | with estar for the progressive: estoy traduciendo |
| Past participle | traducido | with haber for the perfect tenses: he traducido |
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 the -ducir verbs, with a -zc- in the present (as in traduzco) and a -j- stem in the preterite (as in traduje). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For traducir, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Traduzco el libro del inglés al español. 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 the -ducir verbs, with a -zc- in the present (as in traduzco) and a -j- stem in the preterite (as in traduje). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For traducir, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, traduje el documento para el trabajo. 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 traducir, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, traducía la carta de su abuela. 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 traducir, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, traduciré las instrucciones del manual. 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 traducir, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Traduciría el libro del inglés al español 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 traducir, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he traducido el documento para el trabajo. 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 traducir, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había traducido la carta de su abuela 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 traducir, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré traducido las instrucciones del manual. 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 traducir, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría traducido el libro del inglés al español 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 the -ducir verbs, with a -zc- in the present (as in traduzco) and a -j- stem in the preterite (as in traduje). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For traducir, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él traduzca el documento para el trabajo. 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 the -ducir verbs, with a -zc- in the present (as in traduzco) and a -j- stem in the preterite (as in traduje). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For traducir, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él tradujera la carta de su abuela, 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 the -ducir verbs, with a -zc- in the present (as in traduzco) and a -j- stem in the preterite (as in traduje). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For traducir, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Traduce las instrucciones del manual! 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 the -ducir verbs, with a -zc- in the present (as in traduzco) and a -j- stem in the preterite (as in traduje). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For traducir, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No traduzcas el libro del inglés al español. 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 traducir, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Traduzco el libro del inglés al español. — I translate the book from English into Spanish.
- Traduce el documento para el trabajo. — He/she translates the document for work.
- Ayer, traduje la carta de su abuela. — Yesterday, I translated his grandmother's letter.
- Antes, nosotros traducíamos las instrucciones del manual. — Before, we used to translate the instructions in the manual.
- Mañana, tú traducirás el libro del inglés al español. — Tomorrow, you will translate the book from English into Spanish.
- Yo traduciría el documento para el trabajo si tuviera más tiempo. — I would translate the document for work if I had more time.
- Él ha traducido la carta de su abuela. — He has translated his grandmother's letter.
- Espero que él traduzca las instrucciones del manual. — I hope he translates the instructions in the manual.
- Yo ya había traducido el libro del inglés al español antes de salir. — I had already translated the book from English into Spanish before leaving.
- Ellos traducían el documento para el trabajo cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to translate the document for work when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo traduce el libro del inglés al español. — Right: Yo traduzco el libro del inglés al español. — The person matters: traduce is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is traduzco. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Ayer yo traducí el documento para el trabajo. — Right: Ayer yo traduje el documento para el trabajo. — Traducir has an irregular preterite: the correct first-person form is traduje, not the regular traducí. Learn the preterite forms in the table as a set.
- Wrong: Treating traducir and interpretar as identical in every context. — Right: Traducir means to translate, while interpretar means to interpret. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: traducir fits sentences such as Traduzco el libro del inglés al español, while interpretar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy traducido el documento para el trabajo. — Right: Yo he traducido el documento para el trabajo. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he traducido, has traducido, ha traducido. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo traduje la carta de su abuela todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo traducía la carta de su abuela todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (traducía), not the preterite. The preterite (traduje) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on traducir. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el libro del inglés al español. (present tense) A. traduzco B. traduces C. traduce D. traducimos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ el documento para el trabajo. (preterite) A. traduje B. tradujiste C. tradujeron D. tradujo
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ la carta de su abuela. (imperfect) A. traducías B. traducían C. traducíamos D. traducía
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ las instrucciones del manual. (future) A. traduciremos B. traducirás C. traduciré D. traducirá
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el libro del inglés al español si pudiera. (conditional) A. traduciría B. traducirías C. traducirían D. traduzco
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ el documento para el trabajo. (present subjunctive) A. traduzcas B. traduzcamos C. traduzco D. traduzca
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ la carta de su abuela, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. tradujéramos B. traduzco C. tradujera D. tradujeras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ las instrucciones del manual. (present perfect) A. han traducido B. hemos traducido C. he traducido D. has traducido
Complete the command: ¡___ el libro del inglés al español! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. traduce B. traduzca C. traduzcamos D. traducid
Which is the gerund of traducir, used with estar for the progressive? A. traducido B. traduzco C. traduje D. traduciendo
Answer key
- traduzco — The first-person present of traducir is traduzco. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- tradujo — The third-person preterite of traducir is tradujo, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- traducíamos — The nosotros imperfect of traducir is traducíamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- traducirás — The second-person future of traducir is traducirás.
- traduciría — The first-person conditional of traducir is traduciría, the form for what would happen.
- traduzca — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of traducir is traduzca.
- tradujera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of traducir is tradujera.
- hemos traducido — The nosotros present perfect of traducir is hemos traducido: hemos + traducido.
- traduce — The affirmative tú imperative of traducir is traduce.
- traduciendo — The gerund of traducir is traduciendo: estoy traduciendo. The participle traducido is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does traducir mean in English?
Traducir means to translate. It is used in everyday situations such as Traduzco el libro del inglés al español. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is traducir regular or irregular?
Traducir is irregular in present, preterite, present-subjunctive, imperfect-subjunctive, 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 traducir and interpretar?
Traducir means to translate, while interpretar means to interpret. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use traducir when you mean to translate, as in Traduzco el libro del inglés al español, and use interpretar for to interpret. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I translate” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo traduje el documento para el trabajo. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo traducía la carta de su abuela. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he traducido el documento para el trabajo.
How do I practise traducir?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the traducir examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Traducir in the preterite tense — the full preterite-tense table for traducir.
- Traducir examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for traducir.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Complete list of Spanish irregular verbs — where this verb's pattern is listed.
- Deducir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with traducir.
- Introducir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with traducir.
- Contradecir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with traducir.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.