Inklingo

encuentro

en-KWEN-tro/enˈkwentɾo/

encuentro means meeting in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

meeting, encounter

Also: match, gathering
NounmA2
Two friendly people smiling and shaking hands warmly in a bright green park, symbolizing a planned meeting or get-together.

📝 In Action

Tengo un encuentro con mi jefe a las diez.

A2

I have a meeting with my boss at ten.

Fue un encuentro casual en el supermercado.

B1

It was a chance encounter at the supermarket.

El encuentro de fútbol fue muy emocionante.

A2

The soccer match was very exciting.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • reunión (meeting (usually formal/planned))
  • cita (appointment, date)

Antonyms

  • desencuentro (disagreement, failure to meet)

Common Collocations

  • punto de encuentromeeting point
  • encuentro de negociosbusiness meeting
  • salir al encuentro de alguiento go out to meet someone

I find

Also: I come across, I discover
VerbA1irregular (o:ue) ar
A joyful person holding up a bright red ball they just found hidden behind a green bush, illustrating the act of finding.
infinitiveencontrar
gerundencontrando
past Participleencontrado

📝 In Action

No encuentro mis llaves. ¿Las has visto?

A1

I can't find my keys. Have you seen them?

Siempre encuentro ofertas en esta tienda.

A2

I always find good deals in this store.

Encuentro que tu idea es excelente.

B1

I find your idea to be excellent. (I think your idea is excellent.)

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • encontrar una soluciónto find a solution
  • encontrar trabajoto find a job

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

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

imperfect

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

preterite

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

subjunctive

present

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

imperfect

él/ella/ustedencontrara
yoencontrara
encontraras
ellos/ellas/ustedesencontraran
nosotrosencontráramos
vosotrosencontrarais

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "encuentro" in Spanish:

encountergatheringi discoveri findmatchmeeting

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: encuentro

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'encuentro' to mean a 'meeting'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
encontrar(to find)Verb
encontrado(found)Adjective / Past Participle
encontronazo(clash, collision)Noun
desencuentro(disagreement, failure to meet)Noun
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

Comes from the Vulgar Latin '*incontrāre*', which is a combination of 'in-' (meaning 'in' or 'at') and 'contrā' (meaning 'against'). The original idea was about coming up 'against' something or someone, which evolved into our modern meaning of finding or meeting them.

First recorded: Around the 12th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: encontroItalian: incontroFrench: rencontre

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'encuentro', 'reunión', and 'cita'?

Great question! 'Encuentro' is the most general word for a meeting, planned or unplanned. 'Reunión' usually refers to a more formal, planned meeting, especially for work. 'Cita' is best for a scheduled appointment (like with a doctor or dentist) or a romantic date.

How is 'encontrar' different from 'encontrarse'?

'Encontrar' simply means 'to find' something or someone ('Encuentro mis llaves' - I find my keys). The version with 'se' at the end, 'encontrarse', often means 'to meet up with' someone ('Me encuentro con mis amigos' - I'm meeting up with my friends) or to describe a location or state ('El museo se encuentra en el centro' - The museum is located downtown).