Confusing Past Tenses

"Encontraron" uses the simple past (preterite) form. This tells us the action (finding) began and finished quickly in the past, like a single event.

A Specific Past Action

This ending, '-aron', is the standard way to say 'they' or 'you all' did a completed action in the past for any verb that ends in '-ar'.

The 'They' Form

Unlike the present tense (encuentro), the verb "encontrar" keeps the 'o' and does NOT change to 'ue' in the simple past forms like "encontraron." That makes the past tense easier!

No Stem Change in Preterite

Extremely common. This form is used constantly to describe past events.

Use 'encontrar' (preterite: 'encontraron') when the meeting was sudden or unexpected. If they were meeting someone for the first time, use 'conocieron' (they met/got to know).

Meeting People (Versus Conocer)

Commonly used when referring to unexpected or planned meetings in the past.

"Encontraron" is the Spanish preterite form meaning 'they found' or 'they met.' Learn its pronunciation, context, and why it doesn't follow the verb's stem-change rules in the simple past.

Encontraron Meaning & Conjugation (Preterite) | Inklingo

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encontraron

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indicative

present

future

imperfect

conditional

preterite

imperative

negative

affirmative

subjunctive

present

imperfect

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