encontrar

Encontrar is a Spanish verb meaning to find, to come upon, or to meet. It is used both for locating objects and for discovering information, as well as for meeting someone by chance. The reflexive form encontrarse is used to express being located somewhere or to describe a chance encounter with a person.

Etymology and related forms: Encontrar derives from a medieval form related to the Latin-influenced sense of coming upon. It is cognate with Italian incontrare and with French rencontrer, reflecting the same core idea of encountering or meeting.

Conjugation and overview: Encontrar is irregular in the present tense, showing an e → ie stem change: yo encuentro, tú encuentras, él encuentra, nosotros encontramos, vosotros encontráis, ellos encuentran. Other tenses follow regular patterns with typical irregularities; for example, preterite forms include encontré, encontraste, encontró, encontramos, encontrasteis, encontraron. The imperfect is encontraba, encontrabas, encontraba, encontrábamos, encontrabais, encontraban. The past participle is encontrado and the gerund is encontrando. The present subjunctive forms are encuentre, encuentres, encuentre, encontremos, encontréis, encuentren. The imperative forms include encuentra (tú) and encuentre (usted), with corresponding plural forms.

Usage notes: The verb is transitive: encontrar algo means “to find something.” With people, encontrar often means “to meet/encounter someone” (encontrarse with a person is common). Location uses the reflexive encontrado or se encuentra: “La casa se encuentra en el centro.” It can also introduce a clause with que to report discovered information: “Encontré que no estaba disponible.” Synonyms include hallar, descubrir.

In summary, encontrar covers finding, meeting, and coming upon, with a characteristic e → ie stem change in many present forms and multiple figurative uses.