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encontraron

en-kon-TRA-ron/eŋ.konˈtɾa.ɾon/

they found, you all found

Also: they located
VerbA1stem-changing (e→ie in present tenses) ar
Two happy children peering into a green bush, pointing at a bright red ball they have discovered.
infinitiveencontrar
gerundencontrando
past Participleencontrado

📝 In Action

Ellos encontraron un mapa antiguo en el sótano.

A1

They found an old map in the basement.

Las detectives encontraron la evidencia clave anoche.

A2

The detectives found the key evidence last night.

¿Encontraron una solución al problema de tráfico?

B1

Did you all find a solution to the traffic problem?

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • hallaron (they found (more formal))
  • dieron con (they came across)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • encontraron el camino – they found the way

they met (by chance), you all encountered

Also: they ran into
VerbB1stem-changing (e→ie in present tenses) ar
Two surprised and smiling people pausing on a sidewalk as they unexpectedly encounter each other while walking in opposite directions.
infinitiveencontrar
gerundencontrando
past Participleencontrado

📝 In Action

Ellos encontraron a sus viejos vecinos en la feria del pueblo.

B1

They ran into their old neighbors at the town fair.

Ustedes no encontraron mucha resistencia en la negociación.

B2

You all did not encounter much resistance in the negotiation.

Los turistas se encontraron con un desfile inesperado.

B2

The tourists encountered an unexpected parade. (Note: The tourists themselves did the finding/meeting, not used reflexively here.)

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • vieron (they saw)
  • se toparon (they bumped into)

Common Collocations

  • encontraron dificultades – they encountered difficulties

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

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

imperfect

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

preterite

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

subjunctive

present

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

imperfect

él/ella/ustedencontrara/encontrase
yoencontrara/encontrase
túencontraras/encontrases
ellos/ellas/ustedesencontraran/encontrasen
nosotrosencontráramos/encontrásemos
vosotrosencontrarais/encontraseis
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "encontraron" in Spanish:

they found→they located→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: encontraron

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses "encontraron" to mean 'they met someone unexpectedly'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Vulgar Latin verb *incontrare*, meaning 'to come face-to-face with.' It is formed from the Latin prefix *in-* ('in' or 'on') and *contra* ('against' or 'facing'). The meaning naturally evolved from 'facing something' to 'meeting' or 'finding' it.

First recorded: Around the 11th century in written Spanish.

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: encontrarItalian: incontrare

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'encontraron' the simple past or the continuous past?

'Encontraron' is the simple past (preterite). It describes an action that was finished at a specific point in the past: 'They found it (and that's the end of the action).'

How is 'encontraron' different from 'encuentran'?

'Encontraron' is the past ('they found/met'). 'Encuentran' is the present tense ('they find/meet') and involves the verb's internal vowel change (e→ie).