14.07.2026

10 minutes to read

It is difficult to name the exact number of irregular verbs in Spanish. It all depends on what we consider a separate irregular verb: only the most frequent forms, all derivatives from them, or all variants with prefixes. For example, the verb tener is irregular. But from it we get mantener, obtener, detener, contener, sostener, and other verbs. They also change according to a similar model. That is why the list quickly becomes longer.
Speaking practically, a student does not need to learn hundreds of verbs at once. For confident communication at beginner and intermediate levels, it is enough to know the most frequent ones well: ser, estar, tener, ir, hacer, decir, poder, querer, venir, poner, salir, saber, ver, dar, traer, oír, pedir, dormir, sentir, seguir. They appear constantly: in conversations, films, letters, textbooks, and everyday phrases.
Irregularity in Spanish can appear in different ways. In one verb, only the first-person singular form changes: hacer — hago, poner — pongo, salir — salgo. In another, the stem changes: querer — quiero, poder — puedo, dormir — duermo. A third verb has special forms in the past tense: tener — tuve, estar — estuve, hacer — hice. And some verbs, for example ser and ir, are so special that it is better to memorize them separately.
It is important to understand: an irregular verb does not mean “impossible to learn.” Most often, it is simply a verb that does not fully follow the usual conjugation pattern. Spanish has regular models for verbs ending in -ar, -er, -ir, but frequent verbs historically changed in their own way. That is why they kept non-standard forms.
For example, the regular verb hablar in the present tense changes predictably:
yo hablo — I speak
tú hablas — you speak
él habla — he speaks
nosotros hablamos — we speak
vosotros habláis — you speak
ellos hablan — they speak
But the verb tener behaves differently:
yo tengo — I have
tú tienes — you have
él tiene — he has
nosotros tenemos — we have
vosotros tenéis — you have
ellos tienen — they have
Here we can immediately see two features: the form yo tengo and the stem change e → ie in several persons. But once you understand the model, similar verbs become easier.
It is better to study irregular verbs not as a huge chaotic list, but by tenses and groups. First — the most necessary present tense forms. Then — the past tense Pretérito Indefinido, because it has many important irregular stems. After that — the imperative, subjunctive mood, and participle forms. This path is much calmer than trying to learn everything in one evening.

Below is a list of the most important irregular verbs that are worth learning first. They are needed not only for grammar, but also for real communication. Many of them already appear at A1–A2 level, and at B1 level it is difficult to build normal speech without them.

In Spanish, irregular verbs can change in different tenses. But it is better to start with the present tense, Presente de Indicativo, because it is used most often. This is where a student first sees that verbs can change the stem, have a special yo form, or completely differ from the usual pattern.
Let’s look at the most important groups.
The first group is verbs with a special yo form. In the other persons, they may be regular or almost regular.
hacer — to do, to make

Irregular verbs seem difficult if you learn them as a long table without logic. But if you divide them into groups, add examples, and practice them in short phrases, they become much clearer. The main thing is not to try to memorize everything at once.

The infinitive alone does not help much in conversation. You may know that tener means “to have,” but at the right moment fail to remember tengo, tienes, tiene. That is why it is better to learn verbs immediately in short expressions.
For example, not just tener, but:
tengo tiempo — I have time
tengo hambre — I am hungry
tengo frío — I am cold
tengo miedo — I am scared
tengo una pregunta — I have a question
Not just hacer, but:
hago deporte — I do sports
hago la tarea — I do the task
hago café — I make coffee
hago planes — I make plans
Not just ir, but:
voy a casa — I am going home
voy al trabajo — I am going to work
voy a estudiar — I am going to study
voy a llamar — I am going to call
This way, the brain remembers not dry grammar, but real speech. Later, these phrases are easy to adapt to yourself.

If you look at all irregular verbs at once, they seem chaotic. But in reality, many of them change according to similar models. That is why it is better to learn groups rather than one verb after another.
Group e → ie:
querer — quiero
pensar — pienso
empezar — empiezo
entender — entiendo
cerrar — cierro
Group o → ue:
poder — puedo
dormir — duermo
volver — vuelvo
recordar — recuerdo
encontrar — encuentro
Group e → i:
pedir — pido
repetir — repito
seguir — sigo
servir — sirvo
elegir — elijo
Group with a special yo form:
hacer — hago
poner — pongo
salir — salgo
traer — traigo
oír — oigo
When you see a group, memorization becomes faster. You are no longer learning twenty separate exceptions, but understanding a general pattern.

Not all irregular verbs are equally important. Some appear constantly, while others are needed less often. That is why at the beginning it is better not to spread your attention too thin. First learn the verbs without which it is impossible to speak every day.
Minimum set:
ser — to be
estar — to be, to be located
tener — to have
ir — to go
hacer — to do, to make
poder — can, to be able to
querer — to want
decir — to say, to tell
venir — to come
saber — to know, to know how
ver — to see
dar — to give
With these verbs, you can build a huge number of phrases:
Soy de Ucrania.
I am from Ukraine.
Estoy ocupada.
I am busy.
Tengo una clase.
I have a lesson.
Voy a Madrid.
I am going to Madrid.
Quiero aprender español.
I want to learn Spanish.
No puedo hoy.
I can’t today.
Sé la respuesta.
I know the answer.
When these verbs become automatic, you can add new ones.

Many students remember the yo form well, but get confused in other persons. For example, they know tengo, but forget tienes, tiene, tenemos. To avoid this, you need to practice the verb not only in the first person.
Take one verb and immediately make a short chain:
yo tengo — I have
tú tienes — you have
ella tiene — she has
nosotros tenemos — we have
ellos tienen — they have
Then add phrases:
Yo tengo tiempo.
I have time.
Tú tienes una idea.
You have an idea.
Ella tiene una reunión.
She has a meeting.
Nosotros tenemos clase.
We have a lesson.
Ellos tienen preguntas.
They have questions.
You can practice ir in the same way:
voy, vas, va, vamos, vais, van
Voy al centro.
I am going to the center.
Vas a casa.
You are going home.
Ella va al trabajo.
She is going to work.
Vamos al cine.
We are going to the cinema.
Van a la escuela.
They are going to school.
It is better to practice for 5–7 minutes every day than to sit over a table for a long time once. Spanish verbs require not only understanding, but also automatic use.

Irregular verbs are remembered faster when they are connected with your life. Abstract phrases help less than sentences about real plans, habits, and emotions.
For example:
Quiero hablar español con más confianza.
I want to speak Spanish more confidently.
Voy a estudiar veinte minutos cada día.
I am going to study for twenty minutes every day.
Tengo una meta clara.
I have a clear goal.
Puedo practicar con canciones y series.
I can practice with songs and series.
Sé que necesito repetir.
I know that I need to repeat.
When you create sentences about yourself, verbs stop being just grammar. They begin to work as a tool for communication.
You can do a simple exercise: choose 5 irregular verbs and write 3 personal phrases with each one. For example:
tener
Tengo poco tiempo por la mañana.
Tengo una clase de español el martes.
Tengo ganas de viajar a España.
querer
Quiero mejorar mi pronunciación.
Quiero leer libros en español.
Quiero entender películas sin subtítulos.
poder
Puedo estudiar por la noche.
No puedo hablar rápido todavía.
Puedo aprender diez palabras nuevas hoy.
Such sentences are easy to repeat aloud. And if you study with a teacher, you can use them in class for speaking practice.
Another way is to connect verbs with situations. For example, in a café you need querer, pedir, traer, dar:
Quiero un café.
I want a coffee.
Pido un café con leche.
I order a coffee with milk.
¿Me trae la cuenta, por favor?
Could you bring me the bill, please?
Le doy mi tarjeta.
I give you my card.
For travel, you need ir, venir, salir, volver, hacer:
Voy al aeropuerto.
I am going to the airport.
Vengo de Madrid.
I come from Madrid.
Salgo mañana.
I leave tomorrow.
Vuelvo el lunes.
I return on Monday.
Hago una reserva.
I make a reservation.
This approach helps you learn grammar through real topics, not separately from life.
Irregular verbs in Spanish really do require attention, but they should not be frightening. Most of the most frequent forms are gradually memorized through repetition, conversations, and examples. Start with the basic verbs ser, estar, tener, ir, hacer, poder, querer, decir, study the main groups of changes, and regularly use them in your own phrases. Then irregular verbs will stop being a list of exceptions and become a normal part of Spanish speech.