mueven

/MWEH-vehn/

move

Two large, colorful geometric blocks sliding across a smooth wooden floor, clearly in motion.

When objects change position, we say they mueven (move).

mueven(verb)

A1irregular (stem-changing o > ue) er

move

change position

shift

relocate an item

Also:

stir

mix liquids

📝 In Action

Los trabajadores mueven las cajas pesadas al camión.

The workers move the heavy boxes to the truck.

¿Por qué no se mueven? Tenemos prisa.

Why aren't they moving? We are in a hurry.

Ustedes mueven la reunión a la tarde, ¿verdad?

You (plural, formal) are moving the meeting to the afternoon, right?

Word Connections

Synonyms

desplazar (displace)
trasladar (transfer)

Common Collocations

mover las piezas – to move the pieces (in a game)
mover la cabeza – to shake one's head

Idioms & Expressions

mover cielo y tierra – to do everything possible

💡 Grammar Points

The 'O' to 'UE' Change

In the present tense, the 'o' inside the verb stem changes to 'ue' whenever the stress falls on that syllable (like in 'mueven'). The only exceptions are 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' (movemos, movéis).

⭐ Usage Tips

Movement vs. Location

Remember that 'mueven' (from mover) is used for active change in position, while 'están' (from estar) is used for describing where something currently is.

An energetic cartoon character standing next to a hesitant character, pointing encouragingly toward the top of a steep, green hill, inspiring them to start climbing.

To inspire action and encourage others is to mueven (motivate) them.

mueven(verb)

B1irregular (stem-changing o > ue) er

motivate

inspire action

influence

affect decisions

Also:

stir up

cause strong feelings

drive

be the main force behind

📝 In Action

Las injusticias sociales mueven a los ciudadanos a protestar.

Social injustices motivate the citizens to protest.

Sus palabras siempre me mueven; son muy inspiradoras.

Their words always move me; they are very inspiring.

Ellos mueven grandes cantidades de dinero en la bolsa.

They move (manage/handle) large amounts of money on the stock market.

Word Connections

Synonyms

conmover (to touch emotionally)
impulsar (to propel)

Common Collocations

mover voluntades – to sway wills/opinions
mover la economía – to drive the economy

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Action and Feeling

Mistake: "Me mueven mucho estas películas. (Literal: These movies move me physically.)"

Correction: Me conmueven mucho estas películas. (Using 'conmover' is clearer for emotional impact, though 'mover' is also acceptable in certain contexts.)

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

vosotrosmovéis

él/ella/ustedmueve

túmueves

yomuevo

nosotrosmovemos

ellos/ellas/ustedesmueven

preterite

vosotrosmovisteis

él/ella/ustedmovió

túmoviste

yomoví

nosotrosmovimos

ellos/ellas/ustedesmovieron

imperfect

vosotrosmovíais

él/ella/ustedmovía

túmovías

yomovía

nosotrosmovíamos

ellos/ellas/ustedesmovían

subjunctive

present

vosotrosmováis

él/ella/ustedmueva

túmuevas

yomueva

nosotrosmovamos

ellos/ellas/ustedesmuevan

imperfect

vosotrosmovierais

él/ella/ustedmoviera

túmovieras

yomoviera

nosotrosmoviéramos

ellos/ellas/ustedesmovieran

View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: mueven

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'mueven' in its figurative sense (to motivate)?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

mover(to move (infinitive)) - verb

movimiento(movement) - noun

móvil(mobile / cell phone) - adjective/noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the base form of the verb 'mueven'?

The base form, or infinitive, is 'mover' (to move).

Why does the 'o' change to 'ue' in 'mueven'?

The verb 'mover' is an irregular verb with a stem change. When the verb is stressed in the present tense, the 'o' changes to 'ue'. This happens for all forms except 'nosotros' and 'vosotros'.