Tropezar Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb tropezar means to trip, to stumble, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Tropezar always takes con before the obstacle: tropezar con una piedra. It is also used figuratively for running into a problem: tropezar con un problema. Like every Spanish verb, tropezar 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 Yo tropiezo con una piedra en el camino — "I trip on a stone on the path". 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.

The stem vowel changes in the stressed forms of the present: tropiezo, tropiezas, tropieza and tropiezan — but nosotros and vosotros keep the plain stem: tropezamos, tropezáis. The z of the stem becomes c before e: the preterite yo form is tropecé and the present subjunctive yo form is tropiece.

Quick facts

  • Infinitive: tropezar
  • English: to trip, to stumble
  • Verb type: stem-changing -ar verb (e → ie)
  • Ending: -ar
  • Gerund: tropezando
  • Past participle: tropezado
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + tropezado)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for tropezar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for tropezar. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem.

Present indicative

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | tropiezo | | tú | tropiezas | | él/ella/Ud. | tropieza | | nosotros/as | tropezamos | | vosotros/as | tropezáis | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | tropiezan |

Preterite

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | tropecé | | tú | tropezaste | | él/ella/Ud. | tropezó | | nosotros/as | tropezamos | | vosotros/as | tropezasteis | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | tropezaron |

Imperfect

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | tropezaba | | tú | tropezabas | | él/ella/Ud. | tropezaba | | nosotros/as | tropezábamos | | vosotros/as | tropezabais | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | tropezaban |

Future

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | tropezaré | | tú | tropezarás | | él/ella/Ud. | tropezará | | nosotros/as | tropezaremos | | vosotros/as | tropezaréis | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | tropezarán |

Conditional

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | tropezaría | | tú | tropezarías | | él/ella/Ud. | tropezaría | | nosotros/as | tropezaríamos | | vosotros/as | tropezaríais | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | tropezarían |

Present perfect

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | he tropezado | | tú | has tropezado | | él/ella/Ud. | ha tropezado | | nosotros/as | hemos tropezado | | vosotros/as | habéis tropezado | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | han tropezado |

Pluperfect

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | había tropezado | | tú | habías tropezado | | él/ella/Ud. | había tropezado | | nosotros/as | habíamos tropezado | | vosotros/as | habíais tropezado | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían tropezado |

Future perfect

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | habré tropezado | | tú | habrás tropezado | | él/ella/Ud. | habrá tropezado | | nosotros/as | habremos tropezado | | vosotros/as | habréis tropezado | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán tropezado |

Conditional perfect

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | habría tropezado | | tú | habrías tropezado | | él/ella/Ud. | habría tropezado | | nosotros/as | habríamos tropezado | | vosotros/as | habríais tropezado | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían tropezado |

Present subjunctive

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | tropiece | | tú | tropieces | | él/ella/Ud. | tropiece | | nosotros/as | tropecemos | | vosotros/as | tropecéis | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | tropiecen |

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | tropezara | | tú | tropezaras | | él/ella/Ud. | tropezara | | nosotros/as | tropezáramos | | vosotros/as | tropezarais | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | tropezaran |

Imperative (affirmative)

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | tú | tropieza | | él/ella/Ud. | tropiece | | nosotros/as | tropecemos | | vosotros/as | tropezad | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | tropiecen |

Imperative (negative)

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | tú | tropieces | | él/ella/Ud. | tropiece | | nosotros/as | tropecemos | | vosotros/as | tropecéis | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | tropiecen |

Gerund and past participle

Form Spanish Use
Gerund tropezando with estar for the progressive: está tropezando
Past participle tropezado with haber for the perfect tenses: he tropezado

How to use each tense

Present indicative

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. The stem vowel changes in the stressed forms of the present: tropiezo, tropiezas, tropieza and tropiezan — but nosotros and vosotros keep the plain stem: tropezamos, tropezáis. For tropezar, the present indicative looks like this in a real sentence: Yo tropiezo con una piedra en el camino — "I trip on a stone on the path".

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. The z of the stem becomes c before e: the preterite yo form is tropecé and the present subjunctive yo form is tropiece. For tropezar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, yo tropecé con el bordillo de la acera — "Yesterday, I triped on the kerb".

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 tropezar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, yo tropezaba con sus propios pies — "As a child, I used to trip over his own feet".

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 tropezar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, yo tropezaré con la alfombra del salón — "Tomorrow, I will trip on the living-room rug".

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 tropezar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Yo tropezaría con una piedra en el camino si pudiera — "I would trip on a stone on the path if I could".

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 tropezar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, yo he tropezado con el bordillo de la acera — "Today, I have triped on the kerb".

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 tropezar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Yo ya había tropezado con sus propios pies antes de salir — "I already had triped over his own feet before leaving".

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 tropezar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, yo habré tropezado con la alfombra del salón — "By tomorrow, I will have triped on the living-room rug".

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 tropezar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Yo habría tropezado con una piedra en el camino con más tiempo — "I would have triped on a stone on the path with more time".

Present subjunctive

Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. The stem vowel changes in the stressed forms of the present: tropiezo, tropiezas, tropieza and tropiezan — but nosotros and vosotros keep the plain stem: tropezamos, tropezáis. For tropezar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él tropiece con el bordillo de la acera — "I hope he trips on the kerb".

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past. The -ra forms are 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 tropezar, the imperfect subjunctive (-ra) looks like this in a real sentence: Si yo tropezara con sus propios pies, todo cambiaría — "If I triped over his own feet, everything would change".

Imperative (affirmative)

Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. The stem vowel changes in the stressed forms of the present: tropiezo, tropiezas, tropieza and tropiezan — but nosotros and vosotros keep the plain stem: tropezamos, tropezáis. For tropezar, the imperative (affirmative) looks like this in a real sentence: Tropieza con la alfombra del salón. — "Trip on the living-room rug.".

Imperative (negative)

Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. The stem vowel changes in the stressed forms of the present: tropiezo, tropiezas, tropieza and tropiezan — but nosotros and vosotros keep the plain stem: tropezamos, tropezáis. For tropezar, the imperative (negative) looks like this in a real sentence: No tropieces con una piedra en el camino. — "Do not trip on a stone on the path.".

Example sentences

Ten natural sentences with tropezar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Yo tropiezo con una piedra en el camino — "I trip on a stone on the path"
  2. Mi amigo tropieza con el bordillo de la acera — "My friend trips on the kerb"
  3. Ayer, yo tropecé con sus propios pies — "Yesterday, I triped over his own feet"
  4. Antes, nosotros tropezábamos con la alfombra del salón — "Before, we used to trip on the living-room rug"
  5. Mañana, tú tropezarás con una raíz en el bosque — "Tomorrow, you will trip on a root in the forest"
  6. Yo tropezaría con una piedra en el camino si tuviera más tiempo — "I would trip on a stone on the path if I had more time"
  7. Él ha tropezado con el bordillo de la acera — "He has triped on the kerb"
  8. Espero que él tropiece con sus propios pies — "I hope he trips over his own feet"
  9. Yo ya había tropezado con la alfombra del salón antes de salir — "I already had triped on the living-room rug before leaving"
  10. Ellos tropezaban con una raíz en el bosque cuando eran jóvenes — "They used to trip on a root in the forest when they were young"

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo tropezo con el bordillo de la acera. — Right: Yo tropiezo con el bordillo de la acera. — tropezar is a stem-changing verb (e → ie): the stem vowel changes in the stressed present forms, so the yo form is tropiezo, not tropezo.
  2. Wrong: Ayer, yo tropezé con sus propios pies. — Right: Ayer, yo tropecé con sus propios pies. — The z of tropezar becomes c before e, so the preterite yo form is tropecé, never tropezé.
  3. Wrong: Espero que él tropieza con el bordillo de la acera — Right: Espero que él tropiece con el bordillo de la acera — After espero que, Spanish requires the subjunctive: Espero que él tropiece con el bordillo de la acera — not the indicative Espero que él tropieza con el bordillo de la acera.
  4. Wrong: Ayer, yo tropiezo con sus propios pies — Right: Ayer, yo tropecé con sus propios pies — Ayer points to a finished action in the past, so it needs the preterite: Ayer, yo tropecé con sus propios pies.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo tropecé con la alfombra del salón todos los días — Right: De niño, yo tropezaba con la alfombra del salón todos los días — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect, not the preterite: De niño, yo tropezaba con la alfombra del salón todos los días.

Quiz: test yourself

Ten questions on tropezar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ______ con una piedra en el camino — "I trip on a stone on the path" (present) A. tropezamos B. tropiezo C. tropiezas D. tropieza

  2. Complete the sentence: Él ______ con el bordillo de la acera — "He triped on the kerb" (preterite) A. tropezaste B. tropezamos C. tropezó D. tropecé

  3. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ______ con sus propios pies — "We used to trip over his own feet" (imperfect) A. tropezaba B. tropezabas C. tropezabais D. tropezábamos

  4. Complete the sentence: Tú ______ con la alfombra del salón — "You will trip on the living-room rug" (future) A. tropezaremos B. tropezarás C. tropezaré D. tropezará

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ______ con una raíz en el bosque — "I would trip on a root in the forest" (conditional) A. tropezarías B. tropezaríamos C. tropezaríais D. tropezaría

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ______ con una piedra en el camino — "I hope he trips on a stone on the path" (present subjunctive) A. tropecéis B. tropiece C. tropieces D. tropecemos

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ______ con el bordillo de la acera, todo cambiaría — "If I triped on the kerb, everything would change" (imperfect subjunctive) A. tropezáramos B. tropezarais C. tropezara D. tropezaras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ______ con sus propios pies — "We have triped over his own feet" (present perfect) A. he tropezado B. has tropezado C. ha tropezado D. hemos tropezado

  9. Complete the sentence: No ______ con la alfombra del salón. — "Do not trip on the living-room rug." (negative imperative) A. tropecéis B. tropieces C. tropiece D. tropecemos

  10. Which is the gerund of tropezar, used with estar for the progressive? A. tropezado B. tropiezo C. tropecé D. tropezando

Answer key

  1. tropiezo — The present form for yo is tropiezo.
  2. tropezó — The preterite form for él/ella/Ud. is tropezó.
  3. tropezábamos — The imperfect form for nosotros/as is tropezábamos.
  4. tropezarás — The future form for tú is tropezarás.
  5. tropezaría — The conditional form for yo is tropezaría.
  6. tropiece — The present subjunctive form for él/ella/Ud. is tropiece.
  7. tropezara — The imperfect subjunctive form for yo is tropezara.
  8. hemos tropezado — The present perfect form for nosotros/as is hemos tropezado.
  9. tropieces — The negative imperative form is tropieces.
  10. tropezando — The gerund of tropezar is tropezando: estoy tropezando. The participle tropezado is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does tropezar mean in English?

tropezar means to trip, to stumble. It is used in everyday situations such as Yo tropiezo con una piedra en el camino — "I trip on a stone on the path". The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is tropezar regular?

No. tropezar is a stem-changing -ar verb (e → ie). The stem vowel changes in the stressed forms of the present: tropiezo, tropiezas, tropieza and tropiezan — but nosotros and vosotros keep the plain stem: tropezamos, tropezáis. The nosotros and vosotros forms keep the plain stem, which is the part learners most often get right by accident.

What is the gerund and the past participle of tropezar?

The gerund is tropezando and the past participle is tropezado. Use the gerund with estar for the progressive, and the participle with haber for the perfect tenses.

How do I say "I trip" in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: Ayer, yo tropecé con el bordillo de la acera — "Yesterday, I triped on the kerb". For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: De niño, yo tropezaba con sus propios pies — "As a child, I used to trip over his own feet". For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: Hoy, yo he tropezado con el bordillo de la acera — "Today, I have triped on the kerb".

What is the difference between tropezar and caer?

Caer is to fall. Tropezar is to trip or stumble, usually on something — and you can tropezar without caer, if you catch yourself in time. Tropezar always takes con before the obstacle: tropezar con una piedra. It is also used figuratively for running into a problem: tropezar con un problema.

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