sirvo

/SEER-voh/

I serve

A smiling waiter wearing a clean apron holds a tray with a covered dish, ready to serve food to a customer.

Sirvo (I serve) refers to providing food or drinks to others.

sirvo(Verb)

A1irregular (i-stem change) ir

I serve

food, drinks, or customers

I wait

as in 'wait tables'

Also:

I help

by providing something

📝 In Action

Yo sirvo la cena a las siete en punto.

I serve dinner exactly at seven o'clock.

Siempre sirvo el vino en copas grandes.

I always serve the wine in large glasses.

Word Connections

Synonyms

atender (to attend)
ofrecer (to offer)

Common Collocations

sirvo la mesa – I set the table / I wait tables
sirvo un trago – I serve a drink

💡 Grammar Points

Irregular 'Yo' Form

The 'I' form ('sirvo') is irregular! The base verb 'servir' should make 'servo,' but Spanish adds an 'i' sound, making it 'sirvo.' This is common in many 'ir' verbs.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting the Stem Change

Mistake: "Yo servo"

Correction: Yo sirvo. Remember that the 'e' in the stem often changes to 'i' in the present tense forms, except for 'nosotros' and 'vosotros'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Serving People vs. Objects

Use 'sirvo' when you are the one delivering food or drink to a person, or when you work in service.

A sturdy hammer successfully drives a nail deep into a plank of wood, illustrating utility.

Sirvo (I am useful) can describe being effective or functional in a specific role.

sirvo(Verb)

B1irregular (i-stem change) ir

I am useful

in a situation or role

I am suitable

for a job or task

Also:

I function

when talking about one's own capability

📝 In Action

Yo sirvo de traductor en todas las reuniones.

I serve as a translator in all the meetings.

No sirvo para las matemáticas, soy mejor en historia.

I'm not good at math (I'm not useful for math), I'm better at history.

Word Connections

Synonyms

valer (to be worth)
funcionar (to function)

Common Collocations

sirvo para algo – I am good for something
sirvo de apoyo – I serve as support

💡 Grammar Points

Using 'Sirvo para'

When explaining what you are good at, use the structure 'sirvo para' (I am suitable for) followed by a noun or an infinitive verb.

⭐ Usage Tips

Expressing Unsuitability

The phrase 'no sirvo para [algo]' is a very common and natural way to say 'I'm not cut out for [something]' or 'I'm not good at [something].'

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

preterite

él/ella/ustedsirvió

ellos/ellas/ustedessirvieron

vosotrosservisteis

nosotrosservimos

yoserví

túserviste

present

él/ella/ustedsirve

ellos/ellas/ustedessirven

vosotrosservís

nosotrosservimos

yosirvo

túsirves

imperfect

él/ella/ustedservía

ellos/ellas/ustedesservían

vosotrosservíais

nosotrosservíamos

yoservía

túservías

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedsirva

ellos/ellas/ustedessirvan

vosotrossirváis

nosotrossirvamos

yosirva

túsirvas

imperfect

él/ella/ustedsirviera/sirviese

ellos/ellas/ustedessirvieran/sirviesen

vosotrossirvierais/sirvieseis

nosotrossirviéramos/sirviésemos

yosirviera/sirviese

túsirvieras/sirvieses

View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: sirvo

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'sirvo' to mean 'I am suitable'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

servicio(service) - noun

servidor(server) - noun

servicial(helpful) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'sirvo' spelled with an 'i' but the infinitive is 'servir' with an 'e'?

This is a common pattern in Spanish verb irregularity! The vowel 'e' in the middle of the verb stem changes to 'i' in most of the present tense forms (like 'sirvo,' 'sirves,' 'sirve,' 'sirven') but stays as 'e' for the 'we' and 'you all' (vosotros) forms.

How do I say 'I serve' in the past tense (preterite)?

You would use 'serví.' The stem change only happens in the third-person forms of the preterite ('sirvió,' 'sirvieron'), but the 'yo' form is regular in the preterite.