Pertenezc

Pertenezc is not a standalone word in standard dictionaries. In linguistic and grammar discussions, it is used to refer to the stem or base form that underlies the Spanish verb pertenecer (to belong) in present-tense conjugation. The present tense uses two related stems: pertenec- for most forms and pertenezc- for the first-person singular.

Etymology and origin are tied to the verb pertenecer, which comes from the Latin verb pertinere, meaning to pertain or belong. In Spanish, the verb evolved a stem alternation that affects how endings are attached in different persons. The irregularity in the yo form reflects a historical phonological adjustment that produces the form pertenezco.

Conjugation and usage illustrate the stem distinction. The full present-tense paradigm is: yo pertenezco, tú perteneces, él pertenece, nosotros pertenecemos, vosotros pertenecéis, ellos pertenecen. The yo form presents the onde to voz change with -zco, while the other forms typically use the pertenec- stem plus standard endings: -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en. This makes pertenezc appear as the stem used for the irregular yo form and as a reference point in morphological analyses.

In scholarly writing, the sequence or stem pertenezc may be cited in charts and explanations of Spanish verb conjugation. It is not used as an independent lexical item; rather, it helps describe how the verb pertenecer inflects across persons and tenses. See also: pertenecer, Spanish verb conjugation, irregular verbs.