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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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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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)
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- 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)
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- 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)
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- 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.'
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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 _____.'
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