encuentran
“encuentran” means “they find” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
they find, you (plural, formal) find
Also: they discover, they encounter
📝 In Action
Mis padres siempre encuentran un buen restaurante.
A1My parents always find a good restaurant.
¿Ustedes encuentran la solución al problema?
A2Do you (formal plural) find the solution to the problem?
Los científicos encuentran evidencia de agua en el planeta.
B1The scientists find evidence of water on the planet.
they meet up, they are located
Also: they feel
📝 In Action
Se encuentran en la estación de tren a las seis.
A2They meet up at the train station at six.
Los documentos se encuentran en la caja fuerte.
B1The documents are located in the safe.
Ellos se encuentran bien después del viaje.
B1They feel well after the trip.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "encuentran" in Spanish:
they discover→they encounter→they feel→they find→they meet→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: encuentran
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'encuentran' in the sense of finding something, not locating themselves?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Late Latin verb *incontrāre*, formed by combining the prefix *in-* (meaning 'into' or 'in') with *contra* (meaning 'against' or 'opposite'). The original sense was literally 'to go against' or 'to run into' someone, which evolved into 'to meet' and later 'to find.'
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'encuentran' and 'se encuentran'?
'Encuentran' means 'they find' (an object or solution). 'Se encuentran' means 'they find themselves,' which usually translates to 'they meet up,' 'they are located,' or 'they feel' (a certain way).
Why does the 'o' change to 'ue'?
This is a common feature of many Spanish verbs, called a stem change. It happens to make the verb easier to pronounce in the present tense forms, except for the 'we' and 'you all (Spain)' forms, where it stays 'encontramos' and 'encontráis'.

