Encontrar: to find, to meet
Pronunciation: ehn-kohn-TRAHR (stress the capital letters)
Encontrar means “to find, to meet” in English.
Quick answer
- Meaning: to find, to meet
- How to say it: ehn-kohn-TRAHR
- Present: yo encuentro, tú encuentras
- Level: Elementary (A2)
What “encontrar” means and how to use it
Encontrar means “to find” something or someone, and “to run into” a person. The reflexive encontrarse can mean “to be located” or “to meet up.”
How to conjugate “encontrar”
| Who | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | encuentro | I |
| tú | encuentras | you (informal) |
| él, ella, usted | encuentra | he, she, you (formal) |
| nosotros | encontramos | we |
| ellos, ustedes | encuentran | they, you all |
| Past (preterite) | yo encontré, él encontró | I / he or she |
| Past participle | encontrado | used with haber |
Examples with audio
- No encuentro mi teléfono.I cannot find my phone.
- Encontré un buen restaurante.I found a good restaurant.
- Nos encontramos en el parque.We meet at the park.
Usage tip
Encontrar changes its stem: encuentro, encuentras, encuentra. Use buscar for the act of searching and encontrar for the result.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “to find, to meet” in Spanish?
“to find, to meet” in Spanish is “encontrar.” It is pronounced ehn-kohn-TRAHR, with the stress on the syllable in capital letters.
How do you pronounce “encontrar”?
Say ehn-kohn-TRAHR. The syllable in capital letters gets the stress. Press the speaker button at the top of this page to hear it.
What is the past tense of “encontrar”?
In the preterite, “yo” is “encontré” and “él” is “encontró.” The past participle is “encontrado.”
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