📖2 definitions

📚 pienso has 2 definitions

A young person sitting alone, resting their chin on their hand, looking contemplative. A stylized question mark floats inside a thought bubble above their head, symbolizing the action of thinking.

pienso

/pyen-so/

VerbA1irregular (e:ie) ar

I think?Expressing an opinion or thought

Also:I plan?Expressing an intention,I intend?Expressing an intention

Quick Reference

infinitivepensar

gerundpensando

past Participlepensado

📝 In Action

Pienso que va a llover.

I think it's going to rain.

Pienso en ti todos los días.

I think about you every day.

Pienso viajar a México el próximo año.

I plan to travel to Mexico next year.

Word Connections

Synonyms

creo (I believe)
opino (I opine)

Common Collocations

pienso que... – I think that...
pienso en... – I think about...
pienso, luego existo – I think, therefore I am

💡 Grammar Points

The 'Boot Verb' Change

The base verb 'pensar' is a 'boot verb'. The 'e' changes to 'ie' for 'yo', 'tú', 'él/ella', and 'ellos/ellas' (the shapes in a verb chart that look like a boot), but not for 'nosotros' or 'vosotros'. Notice: 'pienso' but 'pensamos'.

Thinking 'that' vs. Thinking 'about'

Use 'pienso que' to share an opinion ('Pienso que es fácil' - I think that it's easy). Use 'pienso en' to say what's on your mind ('Pienso en mis vacaciones' - I'm thinking about my vacation).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'sobre' instead of 'en'

Mistake: "Pienso sobre mi familia."

Correction: To say you're thinking 'about' someone or something, always use 'en'. The correct way is: 'Pienso en mi familia'.

⭐ Usage Tips

A Quick Way to Agree or Disagree

You can use 'Pienso que sí' to say 'I think so' and 'Pienso que no' to say 'I don't think so'. It's a very natural and common response in conversation.

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

yopienso

túpiensas

él/ella/ustedpiensa

nosotrospensamos

vosotrospensáis

ellos/ellas/ustedespiensan

preterite

yopensé

túpensaste

él/ella/ustedpensó

nosotrospensamos

vosotrospensasteis

ellos/ellas/ustedespensaron

imperfect

yopensaba

túpensabas

él/ella/ustedpensaba

nosotrospensábamos

vosotrospensabais

ellos/ellas/ustedespensaban

subjunctive

present

yopiense

túpienses

él/ella/ustedpiense

nosotrospensemos

vosotrospenséis

ellos/ellas/ustedespiensen

imperfect

yopensara

túpensaras

él/ella/ustedpensara

nosotrospensáramos

vosotrospensarais

ellos/ellas/ustedespensaran

View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: pienso

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'pienso' to mean 'animal feed'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

pensar(to think) - verb

pensamiento(thought) - noun

pensador(thinker) - noun

impensable(unthinkable) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if 'pienso' means 'I think' or 'animal feed'?

It's all about context! If it's used like an action at the start of a sentence (e.g., 'Pienso que...'), it means 'I think'. If you see 'el pienso' or it's described as something you buy or give to an animal, it's the noun 'animal feed'.