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Translation of Spanish word "encontrar" to English

encontrar

/eŋkonˈtɾaɾ/

Meaning

Verb

To locate To encounter or discover by accident; to happen upon.

Reviewed by the TheLernen language teamDefinition sourced from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)

How to use

In formal and informal contexts, 'encontrar' is used to convey the idea of locating or encountering something. For example, 'encontré mi teléfono en el sofá' (I found my phone on the sofa). A common learner mistake is to use 'encontrar' in the sense of 'to look for' or 'to search for', which is better translated as 'buscar'.

🇬🇧 English

to find, to meet

Example

No puedo encontrar mis llaves por ninguna parte.

I can't find my keys anywhere.

Ayer encontré un billete de diez euros en la calle.

Yesterday I found a ten-euro bill on the street.

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Synonyms

to discoverto locateto encounterto findpercibir

Common phrases

  • encontrar el camino— to find the way
  • encontrar un trabajo— to find a job
  • encontrar un amigo— to find a friend
  • encontrar la solución— to find the solution
  • encontrar la verdad— to find the truth

More Extended Verbs words

🦊 Conjugation of the verb "encontrar"Full conjugation →

Present Tense (Presente)

yo (I)encontro
tú (you)encontras
él/ella (he/she)encuentra
nosotros (we)encontramos
vosotros (you pl.)encontráis
ellos/ellas (they)encuentran

Simple Past (Pretérito Indefinido)

yo (I)encontré
él/ella (he/she)encontró

Perfect (Pretérito Perfecto)

he encontrado

Imperative (Imperativo)

duencuentra
ihrencontrad
Sieencuentre

Frequency rank: #69 in Spanish

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Spanish word "encontrar" mean?▼

The Spanish word "encontrar" means "to find, to meet" in English.

How do you pronounce the Spanish word "encontrar"?▼

You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "encontrar" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.

Can I see an example sentence with "encontrar"?▼

Yes, here is a practical example: "No puedo encontrar mis llaves por ninguna parte." (which translates as "I can't find my keys anywhere.").

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