Inklingo
Dictionary

encontrarle

en-kon-TRAR-leeŋkontɾaɾle

“encontrarle” means “to find (something) for him/her/you (formal)” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to find (something) for him/her/you (formal)A2Verb

The 'le' indicates the recipient of the finding.

Learn more →
to find the sense/key to itB2Verb

Figurative: finding the logic or point of an abstract idea.

Learn more →

to find (something) for him/her/you (formal)Also: to locate (something) for him/her

VerbA2irregular (stem-changing o>ue) ar
A cheerful child holding a large red lost ball, handing it back to a relieved elderly woman.
past Participleencontrado
infinitiveencontrar
gerundencontrándole

📝 In Action

Necesitas encontrarle un buen regalo de cumpleaños.

A2

You need to find him a good birthday present.

Fui al mercado para encontrarte las fresas más frescas.

B1

I went to the market to find the freshest strawberries for you (formal).

Espero poder encontrarte el camino de vuelta a casa.

B1

I hope I can find the way back home for her/him.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • localizarle (to locate it for him/her)
  • darle con (to come across it for him/her)

Common Collocations

  • encontrarle una solución – to find a solution for him/her
  • encontrarle la forma – to find the way for him/her

to find the sense/key to itAlso: to grasp the meaning

VerbB2irregular (stem-changing o>ue) ar
A thoughtful person sitting next to a complex wooden puzzle box. They are holding a glowing golden key, having finally figured out how to unlock the box.
past Participleencontrado
infinitiveencontrar
gerundencontrándole

📝 In Action

No logramos encontrarte la gracia al chiste.

B2

We couldn't manage to find the humor/point of the joke.

Después de tanto leer, por fin pude encontrarte el sentido a la filosofía.

C1

After reading so much, I was finally able to find the meaning in the philosophy.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • hallarle (to find the key to it)
  • comprenderle (to understand the essence of it)

Common Collocations

  • encontrarle el gusto – to acquire a taste for something
  • encontrarle la falla – to find the flaw/defect (in it)

Indicative

Present

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

Preterite

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

Imperfect

yoencontraba
túencontrabas
él/ella/ustedencontraba
nosotrosencontrábamos
vosotrosencontrabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesencontraban

Subjunctive

Present Subjunctive

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

Imperfect Subjunctive

yoencontrara
túencontraras
él/ella/ustedencontrara
nosotrosencontráramos
vosotrosencontrarais
ellos/ellas/ustedesencontraran
View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: encontrarle

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'encontrarle' in the sense of finding the solution or key?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
encontrar(to find (base verb)) — Verb
encuentro(a meeting; a finding) — Noun
encontrarse(to meet up; to be located) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes
darlehablarle
📚 Etymology

The verb 'encontrar' comes from the Latin 'in' (in) and 'contra' (against/opposite). It originally meant 'to meet' or 'to run into' someone, but evolved to mean 'to find' something sought after. The attached 'le' is the Latin dative pronoun meaning 'to him/her'.

First recorded: Around the 13th century (as 'encontrar')

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: encontrarFrench: rencontrer

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I use 'encontrarle' instead of 'encontrarlo'?

You use 'encontrarle' when the person (him/her/you formal) is the *recipient* of the finding, meaning the finding is 'for' them: 'Voy a encontrarte un regalo' (I'm going to find a gift *for* him/her). You use 'encontrarlo' when the thing being found *is* him/it: 'Voy a encontrarlo' (I'm going to find him/it).

Can I separate 'encontrar' and 'le'?

Yes, but only if you place the pronoun immediately before the conjugated verb that controls the infinitive. For example, 'Necesito encontrarte un trabajo' can also be 'Le necesito encontrar un trabajo.' But they cannot be separated like 'encontrar le' in two words.