encuentran
/en-KWEHN-tran/
they find
When people encuentran something, it means they find it, like these children finding their lost toy.
encuentran(verb)
they find
?locating something
,you (plural, formal) find
?locating something
they discover
?after searching
,they encounter
?coming across something unexpectedly
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'O' to 'UE' Change
Notice that the 'o' in the middle of the verb stem changes to 'ue' (encontro -> encuentran). This happens in most forms, but not in the 'we' (nosotros) or 'you all' (vosotros) forms.
Subject Match
This form 'encuentran' is only used when the subject is plural: 'they' (ellos/ellas) or the formal 'you all' (ustedes).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Stem Change
Mistake: "Mis amigos *encontran* un buen precio."
Correction: Mis amigos **encuentran** un buen precio. Remember the 'ue' sound!
⭐ Usage Tips
Finding Physical Things
Use 'encuentran' most often when talking about locating a physical item or a piece of information.
When people se encuentran, it means they meet up, like these friends running to greet each other.
encuentran(verb)
they meet up
?as in encountering each other (requires 'se')
,they are located
?as in where something is situated (requires 'se')
they feel
?describing a state or feeling (requires 'se')
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
The Reflexive Partner: 'Se'
When 'encuentran' is used to mean 'meet up' or 'are located,' it needs the pronoun 'se' (or 'nos,' 'te,' etc.) in front of it. This shows the action is happening to or between the subjects.
Location vs. Finding
To say 'The keys are located in the drawer,' you must use the reflexive form ('Las llaves se encuentran...'). If you skip the 'se', it means 'The keys find...' which doesn't make sense!
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Location and Finding
Mistake: "Los libros *encuentran* en el estante. (Incorrect: The books find on the shelf.)"
Correction: Los libros **se encuentran** en el estante. (Correct: The books are located on the shelf.)
⭐ Usage Tips
A Formal 'Estar'
'Se encuentran' is a more formal or fixed way of saying 'they are' when talking about location, often replacing 'están' in writing or formal speech.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: encuentran
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'encuentran' in the sense of finding something, not locating themselves?
📚 More Resources
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'.