Spanish · Everyday Verbs
"to find" in Spanish: encontrar
encontrar
To find in Spanish is encontrar. Say yo encuentro and ¿Lo encuentras? Present changes o to ue: encuentro, encuentras.
Lost keys
¡Encontré las llaves bajo el sofá!Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce encontrar
Say it
en-kohn-TRAHR / en-KWEN-troh
/eŋ.kon.ˈtɾaɾ/
en-kohn-TRAHR. Yo encuentro is en-KWEN-troh. The ue is one syllable: kwen.
"to find" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| encontrar | to find Dictionary infinitive. | Dictionary infinitive. |
| yo encuentro | I find Present; o→ue. | Present; o→ue. |
| ¿lo encuentras? | do you find it? Looking together. | Looking together. |
| encontrar a alguien | to find / meet someone People take a. | People take a. |
| ustedes encuentran | you all find Latin American plural you. | Latin American plural you. |
How to use encontrar in real life
- 1Lost keys
¡Encontré las llaves bajo el sofá!
I found the keys under the sofa!
Encontré is past of encontrar.
- 2Shopping
No encuentro mi talla en esta tienda.
I can't find my size in this store.
Encuentro is stem-changed present.
- 3City tip
¿Dónde encuentro un buen café cerca?
Where do I find a good café nearby?
Encuentro in a where question.
Mistakes English speakers make with encontrar
Incorrect: Yo encontro las llaves.
Correct: Yo encuentro las llaves.
Stem change: encuentro from encontrar.
Incorrect: Yo encontrar mi teléfono.
Correct: Yo encuentro mi teléfono. / Encontré mi teléfono.
Conjugate encontrar; do not leave the infinitive.
Good to know
Encontrar covers find and sometimes run into someone. Encontré is a happy shout when something turns up. Encontrarse con alguien means meet up.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Looking for a passport
ChatPal
¿Encontraste el pasaporte?
Did you find the passport?
You
Sí, lo encontré en la mochila.
Yes, I found it in the backpack.
ChatPal
Qué alivio. Yo no lo encontraba.
What a relief. I wasn't finding it.
You
Ahora sí podemos salir.
Now we can leave.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to find" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to find" in Spanish
How do I say I find?
Yo encuentro.
Why encuentro not encontro?
Present o→ue: encuentro, encuentras, encuentra.
I found it?
Lo encontré.
How do you pronounce encuentro?
en-KWEN-troh; ue like kwen.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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