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encontrarlo

en-kon-TRAR-lo

Verb Phrase (Infinitive + Pronoun)A1Irregular (stem-changing o > ue in certain forms) ar
to find it?Locating a masculine noun or an abstract concept ('it')
Also:to find him?Locating a male person,to meet him?When 'encontrar' means 'to meet' or 'run into'

Quick Reference

infinitiveencontrar
gerundencontrando
past Participleencontrado

📝 In Action

Necesito encontrarlo antes de que sea tarde.

A1

I need to find it before it's too late.

¿Sabes dónde está mi libro? No puedo encontrarlo.

A2

Do you know where my book is? I can't find it.

Espero encontrármelo en la fiesta, hace tiempo que no lo veo.

B1

I hope to run into him at the party; I haven't seen him in a long time. (Note: This uses the reflexive 'encontrarse'.)

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • hallarlo (to find it (literary))
  • localizarlo (to locate it)

Antonyms

  • perderlo (to lose it)
  • extraviarlo (to misplace it)

Common Collocations

  • intentar encontrarlo – to try to find it
  • querer encontrarlo – to want to find it

💡 Grammar Points

Structure: Verb + Pronoun

'Encontrarlo' is the base verb 'encontrar' (to find) with the direct object pronoun 'lo' (it/him) glued to the end. This always happens when using the infinitive, the gerund, or the affirmative command.

The Meaning of 'Lo'

The 'lo' at the end tells you that the thing being found is either a masculine singular noun (like 'el libro') or an abstract idea or situation (like 'the solution').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Misplacing the Pronoun

Mistake: "No lo necesito encontrar. (Incorrect word order)"

Correction: No necesito encontrarlo. OR No lo necesito encontrar. (Both are correct, but attaching it to the infinitive is very common.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Choosing Where to Attach

When you have two verbs (like 'poder encontrar' or 'debo encontrar'), you can either attach the pronoun ('encontrarlo') or place it before the first conjugated verb ('lo debo encontrar'). Both are natural.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: encontrarlo

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'encontrarlo'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

encontrar(to find) - verb
el encuentro(the meeting/encounter) - noun
encontrarse(to meet up (with someone)) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'encontrarlo' always mean 'to find it'?

Yes, 'encontrarlo' means 'to find' plus the direct object 'it' or 'him.' If you needed to find a feminine object (like 'la llave'—the key), you would say 'encontrarla' instead.

Why is there no accent mark on 'encontrarlo'?

Even though it is a long word, the natural stress stays on the 'ar' part of the infinitive, following the standard Spanish stress rules for words ending in a vowel, 'n', or 's'. If it were an affirmative command, like 'encuéntralo,' the accent would be required because the stress shifts.