Foreign Language Courses/
InstructorYolanda Reinoso BarzalloShow bio
Yolanda holds a CELTA Cambridge, a Juris Doctorate, and a Master of Public Administration. She is a published author of fiction in Spanish.
This lesson lists some common Spanish verbs ending in '-ir'. There are two separate lists: one for regular '-ir' verbs and another for irregular verbs. Read on to begin learning some new Spanish terms and phrases.
Table of Contents
- Conjugating Common Spanish Verbs Ending in -ir
- Common Regular Verbs
- Common Irregular Verbs
- Verbs in Context
- Lesson Summary
There are many Spanish verbs ending in -ir. Some of them are regular (like the verb vivir, meaning 'to live'), which means these verbs can be conjugated with the same endings based on the person (e.g., yo _____, el/ella _____, etc.). Others are irregular (like the verb decir, meaning 'to say'), which are conjugated differently from regular verbs. If you'd like to learn about -ir verb conjugation, you can review other lessons that cover conjugations of irregular and regular verbs.
In this lesson, we will not conjugate the verb. Instead we'll learn and practice -ir verbs by imagining we want to do the activities these verbs imply. In other words, we'll simply say quiero (pronounced: kee-eh-roh), which means 'I want'. After saying quiero, you simply add any regular or irregular -ir verb. Remember, in Spanish the 'I,' or yo is understood and does not need to be used. Now, let's learn some -ir verbs and practice actively speaking Spanish.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
- Lesson
- Quiz
- Course
- vivir (to live, pronounced: vee-veer)
- escribir (to write, pronounced: ehs-kree-beer)
- recibir (to receive, pronounced: reh-see-beer)
- permitir (to allow, pronounced: per-mee-teer)
- abrir (to open, pronounced: ah-breer)
- subir (to go up, pronounced: soo-beer)
- decidir (to decide, pronounced: deh-see-deer)
- asistir (to attend, pronounced: ah-sis-teer)
- consumir (to consume, pronounced: kohn-soo-meer)
- definir (to define, pronounced: deh-fee-neer)
- describir (to describe, pronounced: dehs-kree-beer)
- insistir (to insist, pronounced: in-sis-teer)
- persistir (to persist, pronounced: per-sis-teer)
- prohibir (to prohibit, pronounced: pro-ee-beer)
- sufrir (to suffer, pronounced: soo-freer)
- dividir (to divide, pronounced: dee-bee-deer)
- imprimir (to print, pronounced: eem-pree-meer)
- discutir (to discuss, pronounced: dees-koo-teer)
- omitir (to omit, pronounced: oh-mee-teer)
- compartir (to share, pronounced: kom-pahr-teer)
- añadir (to add, pronounced: ah-nya-deer)
- aplaudir (to applaud, pronounced: ah-plaoo-deer)
Remember, you can say 'I want _____' by using quiero _____. For example, 'I want to share' would be quiero compartir.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
- ir (to go, pronounced: eer)
- decir (to say, pronounced: deh-seer)
- venir (to come, pronounced: veh-neer)
- repetir (to repeat, pronounced: reh-peh-teer)
- salir (to leave and to go out, pronounced: sah-leer)
- dormir (to sleep, pronounced: dohr-meer)
- conducir (to drive, pronounced: kohn-doo-seer)
- reír (to laugh, pronounced: reh-eer)
- preferir (to prefer, pronounced: preh-feh-reer)
- servir (to serve, pronounced: sehr-beer)
- oír (to hear, pronounced: oh-eer)
- construir (to build, pronounced: kohns-troo-eer)
Now try putting your knowledge to practice. How would you say 'I want to go'? Quiero _____. How about 'I want to sleep'? Keep practicing.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
To put each verb in context, let's look at some examples that illustrate the use of each verb. The examples do not exhaust the possibilities for each verb, but they give you a context to begin.
Regular Verbs
Let's begin with regular verbs:
- vivir: en Miami, con mis padres (to live: in Miami, with my parents)
- escribir: un mensaje, un correo electrónico (to write: a message, an e-mail)
 |
- recibir: un regalo, un invitado (to receive: a letter, a guest)
- permitir: el acceso, una mascota (to allow: access, a pet)
- abrir: una puerta, una oficina (to open: a door, an office)
- subir: las escaleras, al segundo piso (to go up: the stairs, to the second floor)
- decidir: viajar, renunciar, aplicar, etc. (to decide: to travel, to quit, to apply, etc.)
- asistir: a un concierto, a una clase (to attend: a concert, a class)
- consumir: una bebida, alimentos (to consume: a drink, food)
- definir: un objeto, un concepto (to define: an object, a concept)
- describir: una cosa, una persona (to describe: a thing, a person)
- insistir: en algo (to insist: on something)
- persistir: para ganar, para lograr (to persist: to win, to achieve)
- prohibir: el ingreso, fumar (to prohibit: the entrance, to smoke)
- sufrir: mucho, por alguien (to suffer: a lot, for someone)
- dividir: para dos, tres, cuatro, etc. (to divide: by two, three, four, etc.)
- imprimir: un documento (to print: a document)
- discutir: sobre un asunto (to discuss: about a matter)
- omitir: un dato, información (to omit: data, information)
- compartir: una habitación, un apartamento (to share: a room, an apartment)
- añadir: un ingrediente (to add: an ingredient)
- aplaudir: un logro, a una persona (to applaude: an achievement, a person)
With this knowledge, we can write a complete sentence. For example, Quiero vivir en Miami means 'I want to live in Miami.'
Irregular Verbs
Now, let's continue with the irregular verbs:
- ir: a un evento, de viaje (to go: to an event, on a trip)
- decir: que.. (to say: that... this means you use 'que' after 'decir')
- venir: al trabajo, temprano (to come: to work, early)
- salir: de compras, a una fiesta (to go out: shopping, to a party)
- repetir: una frase, una historia (to repeat: a phrase, a story)
- dormir: la siesta, hasta tarde (to sleep: a nap, until late)
- conducir: un coche, con precaució (to drive: a car, in a careful way)
 |
- reír: mucho (to laugh: a lot )
- preferir: any option when you are presented with two or more possibilities
- servir: la comida, a un cliente (to serve: food, a client)
 |
- oír: una historia, una opinió (to hear: a story, an opinion)
- construir: una casa (to build: a house)
Let's practice writing a complete sentence using an irregular verb: Quiero salir de compras, or 'I want to go out shopping.'
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
In this lesson you learned about many common Spanish regular verbs ending in -ir (e.g., escribir, vivir). We also covered irregular verbs ending in -ir, (e.g., ir, venir). You also explored some practical uses of these verbs, such as saying Quiero _____, or 'I want _____.'
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
Register to view this lesson
Are you a student or a teacher?
Unlock Your Education
See for yourself why 30 million people use Study.com
Become a Study.com member and start learning now.
Become a Member
Already a member? Log In
Resources created by teachers for teachers
Over 30,000 video lessons& teaching resources‐allin one place.
Video lessons
Quizzes & Worksheets
Classroom Integration
Lesson Plans
I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. It’s like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. I feel like it’s a lifeline.
Jennifer B.
Teacher
Try it now
Back
