piensen
“piensen” means “(that) they think” in Spanish (Subjunctive mood, referring to 'ellos/ellas').
(that) they think, (that) you all think, think (command)
Also: (that) they consider
📝 In Action
Es crucial que piensen en las consecuencias antes de actuar.
B1It is crucial that they (or you all, formal) think about the consequences before acting.
Piensen un momento: ¿cuál es la mejor opción?
A2Think for a moment: what is the best option?
No creo que piensen lo mismo que nosotros.
B2I don't believe that they think the same thing as us.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: piensen
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'piensen' as a formal command?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *pensāre*, which originally meant 'to weigh' or 'to balance' things, before evolving into the concept of 'weighing an idea' or 'thinking.'
First recorded: Old Spanish (around 10th-11th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'pensar' change to 'piensen'?
The verb 'pensar' is a stem-changing verb. The 'e' in the middle changes to 'ie' in most present tense forms (like 'pienso,' 'piensa,' and 'piensen'). This is a common irregularity in Spanish verbs.
Is 'piensen' always formal?
When used as a command (Imperative), yes, it is the formal plural command ('ustedes'). However, when used in the Subjunctive mood (e.g., 'Espero que piensen...'), it can refer to either a formal group ('ustedes') or simply 'they' ('ellos/ellas').