encontré
/en-kon-TRAY/
I found
Visualizing the meaning 'I found' (locating a lost object).
📝 In Action
¡Por fin encontré las llaves del coche!
A1I finally found the car keys!
Después de mucho buscar, encontré un buen restaurante.
A2After searching a lot, I found a good restaurant.
💡 Grammar Points
'Yo' Form in the Past (Preterite Tense)
'Encontré' is how you say 'I found' for a specific, completed action in the past. The '-é' ending is a common pattern for 'yo' with verbs ending in '-ar' in this tense, like 'hablé' (I spoke) and 'compré' (I bought).
Visualizing the meaning 'I met' (running into someone by chance).
encontré(Verb)
I met
?meeting someone by chance; running into someone
I ran into
,I came across
📝 In Action
Ayer encontré a tu hermana en la biblioteca.
A2Yesterday I met your sister at the library.
Qué sorpresa, ¡encontré a mi antiguo jefe en el avión!
B1What a surprise, I ran into my old boss on the plane!
❌ Common Pitfalls
'Encontré' vs. 'Conocí'
Mistake: "Using 'encontré' to talk about meeting someone for the first time."
Correction: Use 'conocí' for the first time you meet someone (get to know them), and 'encontré' when you run into someone you already know. For example, 'Conocí a mi esposo en 2010' (I met my husband in 2010).
⭐ Usage Tips
The Personal 'a'
When you find or meet a person, you need to add the little word 'a' right after 'encontré'. Notice the example: 'Encontré a tu hermana.' You don't need it for objects: 'Encontré las llaves.'
Visualizing the meaning 'I found' (expressing an opinion, e.g., 'I found it interesting').
encontré(Verb)
I found
?expressing an opinion, like 'I found it to be...'
I thought
?giving a judgment, e.g., 'I thought the book was good'
📝 In Action
Encontré la película muy interesante.
B1I found the movie very interesting.
¿Te gustó el libro? Yo lo encontré un poco aburrido.
B1Did you like the book? I found it a little boring.
⭐ Usage Tips
Giving Your Opinion
This is a great way to sound more natural when sharing your thoughts. Instead of just saying 'La película es interesante' (The movie is interesting), you can say 'Encontré la película interesante' to show it's your personal take on it.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: encontré
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'encontré' to mean 'I met' or 'I ran into'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'encontré' and 'busqué'?
Great question! 'Busqué' means 'I looked for' or 'I searched for'—it's the action of searching. 'Encontré' is the result of that search: 'I found'. So, you might say: 'Busqué mis llaves por una hora y finalmente las encontré' (I looked for my keys for an hour and finally I found them).
Is 'encontré' always about the past?
Yes, 'encontré' specifically refers to a single, completed event in the past. It answers the question 'What happened?'. For ongoing or repeated actions in the past, you would use a different form, 'encontraba'.