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pensar

pen-sarpenˈsaɾ

to think

Also: to use your mind, to consider
VerbA1irregular (e>ie stem-changing) ar
A person sitting quietly, chin resting on their hand, with a glowing light bulb floating above their head, symbolizing an idea or deep thought.
infinitivepensar
gerundpensando
past Participlepensado

📝 In Action

Necesito tiempo para pensar.

A1

I need time to think.

Pienso, luego existo.

B1

I think, therefore I am.

¿En qué piensas?

A2

What are you thinking about?

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • pensar en voz alta – to think out loud
  • pararse a pensar – to stop and think
  • dar que pensar – to give food for thought

Idioms & Expressions

  • pensar en las musarañas – to daydream, to have your head in the clouds

to think (that...)

Also: to believe, to be of the opinion
VerbA2irregular (e>ie stem-changing) ar
Two figures looking at an object, where one figure has a thought bubble containing a golden star, representing a positive opinion or belief.
infinitivepensar
gerundpensando
past Participlepensado

📝 In Action

Pienso que es una buena idea.

A2

I think that it's a good idea.

¿Qué piensas de la nueva ley?

B1

What do you think of the new law?

Ellos piensan que vamos a ganar.

A2

They think that we are going to win.

No pienso que sea tan fácil.

B2

I don't think it's that easy.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • pensar que sí / que no – to think so / not

to plan

Also: to intend, to be thinking of
VerbB1irregular (e>ie stem-changing) ar
A child sitting at a desk, focused intently on a large map showing a clear, drawn path leading directly to a mountain peak, symbolizing a plan.
infinitivepensar
gerundpensando
past Participlepensado

📝 In Action

Pienso viajar a México el próximo verano.

B1

I plan to travel to Mexico next summer.

¿Piensas ir a la fiesta esta noche?

B1

Are you planning to go to the party tonight?

Pensábamos salir, pero empezó a llover.

B2

We were planning to go out, but it started to rain.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • pensar hacer algo – to plan to do something

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedpiensa
yopienso
túpiensas
ellos/ellas/ustedespiensan
nosotrospensamos
vosotrospensáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedpensaba
yopensaba
túpensabas
ellos/ellas/ustedespensaban
nosotrospensábamos
vosotrospensabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedpensó
yopensé
túpensaste
ellos/ellas/ustedespensaron
nosotrospensamos
vosotrospensasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedpiense
yopiense
túpienses
ellos/ellas/ustedespiensen
nosotrospensemos
vosotrospenséis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedpensara
yopensara
túpensaras
ellos/ellas/ustedespensaran
nosotrospensáramos
vosotrospensarais
View All Tenses & Moods →

🔀 Commonly Confused With

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "pensar" in Spanish:

to believe→to consider→to intend→to plan→to think→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: pensar

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly says 'I plan to buy a new car'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
el pensamiento(thought, thinking) — Noun
el/la pensador/a(thinker) — Noun
impensable(unthinkable) — Adjective
pensativo(pensive, thoughtful) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word 'pensāre', which meant 'to weigh' or 'to consider'. You can see the connection: when we think, we are often 'weighing' our ideas and options.

First recorded: Around the 12th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: pensiveFrench: penserItalian: pensarePortuguese: pensar

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'pensar en', 'pensar de', and 'pensar que'?

It's a great question! Here's a simple breakdown: - **Pensar en**: Use this for the *subject* of your thoughts. It means 'to think **about**'. (e.g., 'Pienso en mi familia' - I'm thinking about my family). - **Pensar de**: Use this to ask for an *opinion*. It means 'to think **of**' or 'what's your opinion of'. (e.g., '¿Qué piensas de la canción?' - What do you think of the song?). - **Pensar que**: Use this to *state* your opinion. It means 'to think **that**'. (e.g., 'Pienso que es una buena canción' - I think that it's a good song).

Is 'pensar' always an 'e' to 'ie' stem-changing verb?

Not always! The 'e' changes to 'ie' in most present tense forms (pienso, piensas, piensa, piensan) and in the matching command/subjunctive forms. However, for 'nosotros' (we) and 'vosotros' (you all, informal), it stays regular: 'pensamos', 'pensáis'. It's also regular in other tenses like the preterite ('pensé') and imperfect ('pensaba').