How to Say "found" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “found” is “encontró” — use this form when you are talking about locating a specific person or object in the past, or when someone discovered a fact or formed an opinion..
encontró
Examples
Mi hermana encontró sus llaves debajo del sofá.
My sister found her keys under the sofa.
encontrado
/en-kon-TRA-do//en.konˈtɾa.ðo/
Examples
He encontrado las llaves que perdí.
I have found the keys that I lost.
¿Has encontrado una solución al problema?
Have you found a solution to the problem?
Todavía no hemos encontrado un buen restaurante.
We haven't found a good restaurant yet.
El perro encontrado en el parque ya está con su familia.
The found dog in the park is already with its family.
Making 'Have Done' Sentences
This word, 'encontrado', is what's called a past participle. You team it up with the verb 'haber' (he, has, ha, hemos, habéis, han) to say what someone 'has done'. For example, 'he encontrado' means 'I have found'.
Always Stays the Same
When used with 'haber' to form a tense like this, 'encontrado' never changes. It's always 'encontrado', no matter who is doing the action.
A Describing Word That Changes
When 'encontrado' is used to describe something, it has to match the thing it's describing. It changes for masculine/feminine and singular/plural: el objeto encontrado (the found object), la carta encontrada (the found letter), los tesoros encontrados (the found treasures).
'he encontrado' vs. 'encontré'
Mistake: “Ayer, he encontrado un billete de diez euros en la calle.”
Correction: Ayer, encontré un billete de diez euros en la calle. Use 'encontré' (the simple past) for finished actions at a specific time in the past, like 'yesterday'. Use 'he encontrado' for recent events or life experiences without a specific time.
hallado
/ah-YAH-doh//aˈʝaðo/
Examples
He hallado la solución al problema.
I have found the solution to the problem.
El tesoro hallado en la cueva es muy antiguo.
The treasure found in the cave is very old.
Fue un objeto hallado por casualidad.
It was an object found by chance.
Hemos hallado pruebas importantes.
We have found important evidence.
Changing for Gender
When using this word to describe something, you must match the gender: use 'hallado' for masculine items and 'hallada' for feminine items.
The Helper Rule
When you use 'hallado' after a form of 'haber' (like he, has, ha), it never changes its ending, regardless of who found it or what was found.
Don't change the ending!
Mistake: “Hemos hallados las llaves.”
Correction: Hemos hallado las llaves. Because it is following 'hemos', it stays as 'hallado' even if the thing found is plural.
localizado
/loh-kah-lee-SAH-doh//lokaliˈsaðo/
Examples
El perro perdido ya ha sido localizado.
The lost dog has already been found.
Tengo el archivo localizado en mi computadora.
I have the file located on my computer.
Matching the Noun
This word changes its ending depending on what you are describing. Use 'localizado' for a boy/masculine thing, 'localizada' for a girl/feminine thing, and add an 's' for plurals.
Don't confuse with 'Local'
Mistake: “Using 'localizado' to mean 'nearby' or 'from here'.”
Correction: Use 'local' for things from a specific area, and 'localizado' only when something has been 'found' or 'placed'.
encontrara
/en-kon-TRAH-rah//enkonˈtɾaɾa/
Examples
Si yo encontrara un tesoro, viajaría por el mundo.
If I found a treasure, I would travel the world.
Me gustaría que él encontrara un buen trabajo.
I would like it if he found a good job.
Buscaba a alguien que encontrara la solución.
I was looking for someone who could find the solution.
The 'What If' Word
Use this form when you're talking about a dream or a situation that isn't real right now, usually after the word 'si' (if).
Who is acting?
The word 'encontrara' can mean 'I found' or 'he/she/it found.' You often need to look at the rest of the sentence to know who is doing the finding.
The Missing Accent
Mistake: “encontrará”
Correction: encontrara (without the accent is for 'what if' scenarios; with the accent, it means 'will find' in the future).
Past Tense vs. Past Participle
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.