Triunfar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb triunfar means to triumph, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Triunfar means to triumph or to succeed, and it is used for winning a match, succeeding in life and triumphing over a difficulty: triunfar en el deporte, triunfar en la vida. It takes en for the area of success. It is a fully regular -ar verb. Like every Spanish verb, triunfar 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 triunfo en el deporte profesional, and in the preterite you say triunfé en el concurso de canto. 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: triunfar
- English: to triumph
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: triunfando
- Past participle: triunfado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + triunfado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for triunfar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Triunfar takes en: triunfo en el deporte. It is fully regular: triunfé, triunfaba, triunfaré.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for triunfar. 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 | triunfo |
| tú | triunfas |
| él/ella/Ud. | triunfa |
| nosotros/as | triunfamos |
| vosotros/as | triunfáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | triunfan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | triunfé |
| tú | triunfaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | triunfó |
| nosotros/as | triunfamos |
| vosotros/as | triunfasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | triunfaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | triunfaba |
| tú | triunfabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | triunfaba |
| nosotros/as | triunfábamos |
| vosotros/as | triunfabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | triunfaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | triunfaré |
| tú | triunfarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | triunfará |
| nosotros/as | triunfaremos |
| vosotros/as | triunfaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | triunfarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | triunfaría |
| tú | triunfarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | triunfaría |
| nosotros/as | triunfaríamos |
| vosotros/as | triunfaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | triunfarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he triunfado |
| tú | has triunfado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha triunfado |
| nosotros/as | hemos triunfado |
| vosotros/as | habéis triunfado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han triunfado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había triunfado |
| tú | habías triunfado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había triunfado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos triunfado |
| vosotros/as | habíais triunfado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían triunfado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré triunfado |
| tú | habrás triunfado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá triunfado |
| nosotros/as | habremos triunfado |
| vosotros/as | habréis triunfado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán triunfado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría triunfado |
| tú | habrías triunfado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría triunfado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos triunfado |
| vosotros/as | habríais triunfado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían triunfado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | triunfe |
| tú | triunfes |
| él/ella/Ud. | triunfe |
| nosotros/as | triunfemos |
| vosotros/as | triunféis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | triunfen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | triunfara |
| tú | triunfaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | triunfara |
| nosotros/as | triunfáramos |
| vosotros/as | triunfarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | triunfaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | triunfa |
| él/ella/Ud. | triunfe |
| nosotros/as | triunfemos |
| vosotros/as | triunfad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | triunfen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | triunfes |
| él/ella/Ud. | triunfe |
| nosotros/as | triunfemos |
| vosotros/as | triunféis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | triunfen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | triunfando | with estar for the progressive: estoy triunfando |
| Past participle | triunfado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he triunfado |
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 triunfar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Triunfo en el deporte profesional. 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 triunfar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, triunfé en la vida con esfuerzo. 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 triunfar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, triunfaba en el concurso de canto. 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 triunfar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, triunfaré contra todas las dificultades. 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 triunfar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Triunfaría en el deporte profesional 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 triunfar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he triunfado en la vida con esfuerzo. 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 triunfar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había triunfado en el concurso de canto 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 triunfar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré triunfado contra todas las dificultades. 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 triunfar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría triunfado en el deporte profesional 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 triunfar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él triunfe en la vida con esfuerzo. 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 triunfar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él triunfara en el concurso de canto, 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 triunfar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Triunfa contra todas las dificultades! 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 triunfar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No triunfes en el deporte profesional. 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 triunfar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Triunfo en el deporte profesional. — I triumph in professional sport.
- Triunfa en la vida con esfuerzo. — He/she triumphs in life with effort.
- Ayer, triunfé en el concurso de canto. — Yesterday, I triumphed in the singing contest.
- Antes, nosotros triunfábamos contra todas las dificultades. — Before, we used to triumph against all the difficulties.
- Mañana, tú triunfarás en el deporte profesional. — Tomorrow, you will triumph in professional sport.
- Yo triunfaría en la vida con esfuerzo si tuviera más tiempo. — I would triumph in life with effort if I had more time.
- Él ha triunfado en el concurso de canto. — He has triumphed in the singing contest.
- Espero que él triunfe contra todas las dificultades. — I hope he triumphs against all the difficulties.
- Yo ya había triunfado en el deporte profesional antes de salir. — I had already triumphed in professional sport before leaving.
- Ellos triunfaban en la vida con esfuerzo cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to triumph in life with effort when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo triunfa en el deporte profesional. — Right: Yo triunfo en el deporte profesional. — The person matters: triunfa is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is triunfo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Ayer yo triunfo en la vida con esfuerzo. — Right: Ayer yo triunfé en la vida con esfuerzo. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: triunfo is happening now, while triunfé is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
- Wrong: Treating triunfar and ganar as identical in every context. — Right: Triunfar means to triumph, while ganar means to win. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: triunfar fits sentences such as Triunfo en el deporte profesional, while ganar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy triunfado en la vida con esfuerzo. — Right: Yo he triunfado en la vida con esfuerzo. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he triunfado, has triunfado, ha triunfado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo triunfé en el concurso de canto todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo triunfaba en el concurso de canto todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (triunfaba), not the preterite. The preterite (triunfé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on triunfar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ en el deporte profesional. (present tense) A. triunfo B. triunfas C. triunfa D. triunfamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ en la vida con esfuerzo. (preterite) A. triunfé B. triunfaste C. triunfamos D. triunfó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ en el concurso de canto. (imperfect) A. triunfabas B. triunfo C. triunfábamos D. triunfaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ contra todas las dificultades. (future) A. triunfaremos B. triunfarás C. triunfaré D. triunfará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ en el deporte profesional si pudiera. (conditional) A. triunfaría B. triunfarías C. triunfaríamos D. triunfo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ en la vida con esfuerzo. (present subjunctive) A. triunfes B. triunfemos C. triunfo D. triunfe
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ en el concurso de canto, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. triunfáramos B. triunfo C. triunfara D. triunfaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ contra todas las dificultades. (present perfect) A. ha triunfado B. hemos triunfado C. he triunfado D. has triunfado
Complete the command: ¡___ en el deporte profesional! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. triunfa B. triunfe C. triunfemos D. triunfad
Which is the gerund of triunfar, used with estar for the progressive? A. triunfado B. triunfo C. triunfé D. triunfando
Answer key
- triunfo — The yo present tense of triunfar is triunfo.
- triunfó — The él/ella/Ud. preterite of triunfar is triunfó.
- triunfábamos — The nosotros/as imperfect of triunfar is triunfábamos.
- triunfarás — The tú future of triunfar is triunfarás.
- triunfaría — The yo conditional of triunfar is triunfaría.
- triunfe — The él/ella/Ud. present subjunctive of triunfar is triunfe.
- triunfara — The yo imperfect subjunctive, -ra form of triunfar is triunfara.
- hemos triunfado — The nosotros/as present perfect of triunfar is hemos triunfado.
- triunfa — The affirmative tú imperative of triunfar is triunfa.
- triunfando — The gerund of triunfar is triunfando: estoy triunfando. The participle triunfado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does triunfar mean in English?
Triunfar means to triumph. It is used in everyday situations such as Triunfo en el deporte profesional. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is triunfar regular or irregular?
Triunfar 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 triunfo in the present and triunfé in the preterite.
What is the difference between triunfar and ganar?
Triunfar means to triumph, while ganar means to win. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use triunfar when you mean to triumph, as in Triunfo en el deporte profesional, and use ganar for to win. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I triumph” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo triunfé en la vida con esfuerzo. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo triunfaba en el concurso de canto. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he triunfado en la vida con esfuerzo.
How do I practise triunfar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the triunfar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Triunfar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for triunfar.
- Triunfar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for triunfar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Tardar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with triunfar.
- Testificar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with triunfar.
- Trasnochar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with triunfar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.