herir
/eh-REER/
to wound
When you cause a physical injury, you 'herir' (wound) someone.
herir(Verb)
to wound
?to cause a physical injury
,to injure
?to cause physical harm
to hurt
?general physical harm
📝 In Action
El accidente hirió a tres personas gravemente.
A2The accident injured three people seriously.
No quiero herirte con esta aguja.
B1I don't want to wound you with this needle.
La bala le hirió el hombro.
B2The bullet wounded his shoulder.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'e' to 'ie' Change
This verb is irregular. In the present tense, the 'e' changes to 'ie' in all forms except 'nosotros' and 'vosotros'. Remember: 'hiero' (I wound) but 'herimos' (we wound).
The 'e' to 'i' Change in the Past
In the simple past (preterite), the third-person forms change 'e' to 'i': 'él hirió' (he wounded) and 'ellos hirieron' (they wounded). This is a common pattern for many 'ir' stem-changing verbs.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Stem Change
Mistake: "Yo herro (I wound)"
Correction: Yo hiero. The 'e' must change to 'ie' in the present tense 'boot' forms.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'Se' for Accidents
To describe an accidental injury where the person is the victim, use the passive 'se': 'Se hirió la pierna' (He/She injured their leg).
When words cause emotional pain, you 'herir' (hurt feelings).
herir(Verb)
to hurt (feelings)
?emotional pain
,to offend
?to cause insult or upset
to wound (pride/honor)
?figurative injury
📝 In Action
Sus comentarios hirieron mi orgullo profundamente.
B1His comments wounded my pride deeply.
No quería herir tus sentimientos, solo dije la verdad.
B2I didn't want to hurt your feelings, I just told the truth.
💡 Grammar Points
Direct Action on Feelings
Unlike the verb 'doler' (which means 'to ache' and works like 'gustar'), 'herir' is a direct action verb. You 'herir' someone or something (their feelings, their pride).
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Esteem
This verb is often used when discussing damage to reputation, pride, or self-esteem, emphasizing the severity of the emotional harm.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: herir
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the present tense 'yo' form of herir?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'herir' and 'doler'?
'Herir' means 'to wound' or 'to injure'—it is an action that someone or something *does* to cause harm (physical or emotional). 'Doler' means 'to ache' or 'to hurt'—it describes the *feeling* of pain that results, and it works like the verb 'gustar' (Me duele la cabeza = My head hurts me).
Is 'herir' always used for serious injuries?
Not always. While it implies an injury or wound (like a cut or a bruise), it can also be used figuratively for minor emotional upsets, though 'lastimar' is often preferred for less serious physical hurts.