Zarpar Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb zarpar means to set sail, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Zarpar means to set sail, for a ship leaving port. It is a nautical verb used in ports, travel and literature, and it is fully regular. Like every Spanish verb, zarpar 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 zarpo del puerto al amanecer, and in the preterite you say zarpé en silencio por la noche. 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: zarpar
  • English: to set sail
  • Verb type: regular -ar verb
  • Ending: -ar
  • Gerund: zarpando
  • Past participle: zarpado
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + zarpado)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for zarpar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Zarpar is fully regular: zarpo, zarpa. It is only for ships leaving port; for people leaving, use salir.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for zarpar. 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 zarpo
tú zarpas
él/ella/Ud. zarpa
nosotros/as zarpamos
vosotros/as zarpáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. zarpan

Preterite

Person Form
yo zarpé
tú zarpaste
él/ella/Ud. zarpó
nosotros/as zarpamos
vosotros/as zarpasteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. zarparon

Imperfect

Person Form
yo zarpaba
tú zarpabas
él/ella/Ud. zarpaba
nosotros/as zarpábamos
vosotros/as zarpabais
ellos/ellas/Uds. zarpaban

Future

Person Form
yo zarparé
tú zarparás
él/ella/Ud. zarpará
nosotros/as zarparemos
vosotros/as zarparéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. zarparán

Conditional

Person Form
yo zarparía
tú zarparías
él/ella/Ud. zarparía
nosotros/as zarparíamos
vosotros/as zarparíais
ellos/ellas/Uds. zarparían

Present perfect

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

Pluperfect

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

Future perfect

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

Conditional perfect

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

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo zarpe
tú zarpes
él/ella/Ud. zarpe
nosotros/as zarpemos
vosotros/as zarpéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. zarpen

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo zarpara
tú zarparas
él/ella/Ud. zarpara
nosotros/as zarpáramos
vosotros/as zarparais
ellos/ellas/Uds. zarparan

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú zarpa
él/ella/Ud. zarpe
nosotros/as zarpemos
vosotros/as zarpad
ellos/ellas/Uds. zarpen

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú zarpes
él/ella/Ud. zarpe
nosotros/as zarpemos
vosotros/as zarpéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. zarpen

Gerund and past participle

Form Spanish Use
Gerund zarpando with estar for the progressive: estoy zarpando
Past participle zarpado with haber for the perfect tenses: he zarpado

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 zarpar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Zarpo del puerto al amanecer. 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 zarpar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, zarpé hacia las islas con buen viento. 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 zarpar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, zarpaba en silencio por la noche. 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 zarpar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, zarparé con la marea alta. 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 zarpar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Zarparía del puerto al amanecer 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 zarpar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he zarpado hacia las islas con buen viento. 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 zarpar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había zarpado en silencio por la noche 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 zarpar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré zarpado con la marea alta. 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 zarpar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría zarpado del puerto al amanecer 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 zarpar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él zarpe hacia las islas con buen viento. 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 zarpar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él zarpara en silencio por la noche, 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 zarpar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Zarpa con la marea alta! 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 zarpar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No zarpes del puerto al amanecer. 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 zarpar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Zarpo del puerto al amanecer. — I set sail from the port at dawn.
  2. Zarpa hacia las islas con buen viento. — He/she sets sail for the islands with a good wind.
  3. Ayer, zarpé en silencio por la noche. — Yesterday, I set sail in silence at night.
  4. Antes, nosotros zarpábamos con la marea alta. — Before, we used to set sail with the high tide.
  5. Mañana, tú zarparás del puerto al amanecer. — Tomorrow, you will set sail from the port at dawn.
  6. Yo zarparía hacia las islas con buen viento si tuviera más tiempo. — I would set sail for the islands with a good wind if I had more time.
  7. Él ha zarpado en silencio por la noche. — He has set sail in silence at night.
  8. Espero que él zarpe con la marea alta. — I hope he sets sail with the high tide.
  9. Yo ya había zarpado del puerto al amanecer antes de salir. — I had already set sail from the port at dawn before leaving.
  10. Ellos zarpaban hacia las islas con buen viento cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to set sail for the islands with a good wind when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo zarpa del puerto al amanecer. — Right: Yo zarpo del puerto al amanecer. — The person matters: zarpa is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is zarpo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
  2. Wrong: Ayer yo zarpo hacia las islas con buen viento. — Right: Ayer yo zarpé hacia las islas con buen viento. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: zarpo is happening now, while zarpé is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
  3. Wrong: Treating zarpar and salir as identical in every context. — Right: Zarpar means to set sail, while salir means to leave, in general. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: zarpar fits sentences such as Zarpo del puerto al amanecer, while salir belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy zarpado hacia las islas con buen viento. — Right: Yo he zarpado hacia las islas con buen viento. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he zarpado, has zarpado, ha zarpado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo zarpé en silencio por la noche todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo zarpaba en silencio por la noche todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (zarpaba), not the preterite. The preterite (zarpé) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

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

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ del puerto al amanecer. (present tense) A. zarpo B. zarpas C. zarpa D. zarpamos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ hacia las islas con buen viento. (preterite) A. zarpé B. zarpaste C. zarparon D. zarpó

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ en silencio por la noche. (imperfect) A. zarpabas B. zarpaban C. zarpábamos D. zarpaba

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ con la marea alta. (future) A. zarparemos B. zarparás C. zarparé D. zarpará

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ del puerto al amanecer si pudiera. (conditional) A. zarparía B. zarparías C. zarparían D. zarpo

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ hacia las islas con buen viento. (present subjunctive) A. zarpes B. zarpemos C. zarpo D. zarpe

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ en silencio por la noche, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. zarpáramos B. zarpo C. zarpara D. zarparas

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ con la marea alta. (present perfect) A. han zarpado B. hemos zarpado C. he zarpado D. has zarpado

  9. Complete the command: ¡___ del puerto al amanecer! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. zarpa B. zarpe C. zarpemos D. zarpad

  10. Which is the gerund of zarpar, used with estar for the progressive? A. zarpado B. zarpo C. zarpé D. zarpando

Answer key

  1. zarpo — The first-person present of zarpar is zarpo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. zarpó — The third-person preterite of zarpar is zarpó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. zarpábamos — The nosotros imperfect of zarpar is zarpábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. zarparás — The second-person future of zarpar is zarparás.
  5. zarparía — The first-person conditional of zarpar is zarparía, the form for what would happen.
  6. zarpe — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of zarpar is zarpe.
  7. zarpara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of zarpar is zarpara.
  8. hemos zarpado — The nosotros present perfect of zarpar is hemos zarpado: hemos + zarpado.
  9. zarpa — The affirmative tú imperative of zarpar is zarpa.
  10. zarpando — The gerund of zarpar is zarpando: estoy zarpando. The participle zarpado is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does zarpar mean in English?

Zarpar means to set sail. It is used in everyday situations such as Zarpo del puerto al amanecer. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is zarpar regular or irregular?

Zarpar 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 zarpo in the present and zarpé in the preterite.

What is the difference between zarpar and salir?

Zarpar means to set sail, while salir means to leave, in general. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use zarpar when you mean to set sail, as in Zarpo del puerto al amanecer, and use salir for to leave, in general. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I set sail” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo zarpé hacia las islas con buen viento. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo zarpaba en silencio por la noche. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he zarpado hacia las islas con buen viento.

How do I practise zarpar?

Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the zarpar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.

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