Inklingo
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encontrar

en-kon-trar/eŋkonˈtɾaɾ/

to find

Also: to locate, to discover
VerbA1stem-changing ar
General
A child happily holding a small golden key they discovered in the grass.
gerundencontrando
infinitiveencontrar
past Participleencontrado

📝 In Action

No encuentro mis llaves.

A1

I can't find my keys.

Finalmente encontré un buen apartamento.

A2

I finally found a good apartment.

Espero que encuentres lo que buscas.

B1

I hope you find what you are looking for.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • encontrar la solución – to find the solution
  • encontrar el camino – to find the way
  • encontrar tiempo – to find time

Idioms & Expressions

  • encontrar tu media naranja – to find your soulmate

to run into

Also: to meet up
Two friends waving at each other with surprised expressions on a busy sidewalk.

📝 In Action

Ayer encontré a tu hermano en el cine.

A2

I ran into your brother at the cinema yesterday.

Siempre nos encontramos en la misma calle.

B1

We always run into each other on the same street.

Me encontré con un viejo amigo.

B1

I bumped into an old friend.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tropezar con (to stumble upon)
  • toparse con (to run into)

Common Collocations

  • encontrarse con alguien – to meet up/run into someone

to find (something to be...)

A person sitting in a cozy armchair, smiling while reading a book.

📝 In Action

Encuentro este libro muy aburrido.

B1

I find this book very boring.

¿No encuentras extraño que no haya llamado?

B2

Don't you find it strange that he hasn't called?

Encontré la película bastante interesante.

B1

I found the movie quite interesting.

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

present

yoencuentre
nosotrosencontremos
vosotrosencontréis
él/ella/ustedencuentre
ellos/ellas/ustedesencuentren
túencuentres

imperfect

yoencontrara
nosotrosencontráramos
vosotrosencontrarais
él/ella/ustedencontrara
ellos/ellas/ustedesencontraran
túencontraras

indicative

present

yoencuentro
nosotrosencontramos
vosotrosencontráis
él/ella/ustedencuentra
ellos/ellas/ustedesencuentran
túencuentras

preterite

yoencontré
nosotrosencontramos
vosotrosencontrasteis
él/ella/ustedencontró
ellos/ellas/ustedesencontraron
túencontraste

imperfect

yoencontraba
nosotrosencontrábamos
vosotrosencontrabais
él/ella/ustedencontraba
ellos/ellas/ustedesencontraban
túencontrabas
View All Tenses & Moods →

🔀 Commonly Confused With

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: encontrar

Question 1 of 3

Which form of 'encontrar' is correct for 'We find'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
encuentro(meeting/encounter) — Noun
encontradizo(easy to find / person who makes themselves found) — Adjective
encontronazo(collision/big clash) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'incontrare', which was made from 'in-' (into) and 'contra' (against/opposite). It originally meant coming face-to-face with something.

First recorded: 12th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: encounterFrench: rencontrer

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'encontrar' always change the 'o' to 'ue'?

Almost! It changes in all present tense forms except 'nosotros' (we) and 'vosotros' (you all). It also never changes in the past preterite or future tenses.

Can I use 'encontrar' for 'finding out' news?

Usually not. For news or facts, Spanish speakers use 'enterarse' or 'saber'. 'Encontrar' is mainly for physical objects, locations, or people.

What is the difference between 'encontrar' and 'encontrarse'?

Use 'encontrar' when you find something. Use 'encontrarse' to talk about where a place is located (El hotel se encuentra aquí) or how you are feeling (Me encuentro mal).