A small child giving a sincere, tight hug to an adult figure, symbolizing gratitude and thanks.

agradezco

ah-grah-DESS-koh

verbA1irregular (G-to-ZC spelling change in yo form) er

I thank?Expressing gratitude,I am grateful for?Expressing acknowledgement

Also:I appreciate?Formal acknowledgement

Quick Reference

infinitiveagradecer (to thank)

gerundagradeciendo

past Participleagradecido

📝 In Action

Te agradezco mucho tu ayuda con el proyecto.

I thank you very much for your help with the project.

Agradezco la oportunidad de trabajar aquí.

I am grateful for the opportunity to work here.

De antemano, agradezco su atención al asunto.

In advance, I thank you for your attention to the matter.

Word Connections

Synonyms

dar las gracias (to give thanks)
reconocer (to recognize/acknowledge)

Antonyms

desagradecer (to be ungrateful)

Common Collocations

agradezco su comprensión – I appreciate your understanding
agradecer por la invitación – to thank for the invitation

💡 Grammar Points

The 'Yo' Irregularity

The verb 'agradecer' is irregular only in the 'yo' (I) form of the present tense (and all forms of the present subjunctive). We add a 'z' before the 'c' to make it 'agradezco' instead of the expected 'agradeco.' This ensures the 'c' sound stays soft, like an 's'.

What to thank for (Preposition)

When you thank someone for a specific thing or action, you almost always use the preposition 'por' (for). Example: 'Agradezco por la cena' (I thank you for dinner).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting the 'z'

Mistake: "Yo agradeco por el regalo."

Correction: Yo agradezco por el regalo. (Remember the 'z' in the 'yo' form.)

Confusing 'Agradezco' and 'Gracias'

Mistake: "Agradezco, necesito un café. (Using it as a standalone 'thanks'.)"

Correction: 'Agradezco' means 'I thank/I am grateful.' For a simple, standalone 'Thanks,' just use 'Gracias.'

⭐ Usage Tips

Politeness Amplification

Use 'mucho' (a lot) or 'sinceramente' (sincerely) immediately after 'agradezco' to make your gratitude stronger: 'Agradezco mucho tu ayuda.'

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedagradece

yoagradezco

túagradeces

ellos/ellas/ustedesagradecen

nosotrosagradecemos

vosotrosagradecéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedagradecía

yoagradecía

túagradecías

ellos/ellas/ustedesagradecían

nosotrosagradecíamos

vosotrosagradecíais

preterite

él/ella/ustedagradeció

yoagradecí

túagradeciste

ellos/ellas/ustedesagradecieron

nosotrosagradecimos

vosotrosagradecisteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedagradezca

yoagradezca

túagradezcas

ellos/ellas/ustedesagradezcan

nosotrosagradezcamos

vosotrosagradezcáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedagradeciera/agradeciese

yoagradeciera/agradeciese

túagradecieras/agradecieses

ellos/ellas/ustedesagradecieran/agradeciesen

nosotrosagradeciéramos/agradeciésemos

vosotrosagradecierais/agradecieseis

View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: agradezco

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses the spelling change required for 'agradecer' in the present tense 'yo' form?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

agradecer(to thank) - verb (infinitive)

agradecimiento(gratitude/thankfulness) - noun

agradecido(grateful (adjective)) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does 'agradecer' change to 'agradezco' only in the 'yo' form?

This spelling change (C to ZC) is necessary to keep the 'c' sounding soft like an 's' sound before the 'o.' If we wrote 'agradeco,' the 'c' would sound hard like a 'k,' which would break the sound pattern of the verb.

Can I use 'agradezco' instead of 'gracias'?

'Gracias' simply means 'thanks.' 'Agradezco' means 'I thank' or 'I am grateful.' While 'gracias' is perfect for quick, informal thanks, 'agradezco' is often used to emphasize your personal involvement or formal gratitude for something specific: 'Le agradezco su tiempo' (I thank you for your time).