Spanish Spell-Changing Verbs

In Spanish, there are two types of verbs that undergo spelling changes during conjugation. We’ve already covered one type: stem-changing verbs. Today we’re going to look at the present tense forms of spell-changing verbs.

 

This type of verb undergoes a spelling change in order to preserve the pronunciation found in the infinitive. As with stem-changing verbs, spell-changing verbs follow a consistent set of rules. Let’s look at each in turn:

 

 

Verbs ending in -ger or -gir

The g changes to a j to preserve the /h/ sound in the first person singular.

 

G to J Examples

Infinitive	Yo (First Person Singular)
acoger (to greet)	acojo
emerger (to emerge)	emerjo
rugir (to roar)	rujo
urgir (to urge)	urjo

 

 

Verbs ending in –guir

The gu changes to g to preserve the /g/ sound in the first person singular. This also prevents the /w/ sound created by the “uo” combination.

 

GU to G Examples

Infinitive	Yo (First Person Singular)
distinguir (to distinguish)	distingo
extinguir (to extinguish)	extingo

 

 

Verbs ending in -uir (without a g)

An unstressed i changes to y when the “i” would otherwise end up between vowels. This rule therefore applies to every form except nosotros and vosotros, which follow regular IR verb conjugation rules.

 

I to Y Example: concluir – to conclude

Pronoun	Ending	Conjugation
yo	o	concluyo
tú	es	concluyes
él, ella, usted	e	concluye
nosotros, nosotras	imos	concluimos
vosotros, vosotras	ís	concluís
ellos, ellas, ustedes	íen	concluyen

 

 

Verbs ending in -cer or -cir

In the first person singular (yo), the c changes to z only if the stem before -cer/-cir ends in a consonant. This preserves the /s/ or /th/ sound and prevents the /k/ sound of the “co” combination. In the case of a vowel preceding -cer/-cir, add a z before the c.*

 

C to Z Examples

Infinitive	Yo (First Person Singular)
convencer (to convince)	convenzo
esparcir (to disperse)	esparzo

 

Z before C Examples

Infinitive	Yo (First Person Singular)
conducir (to drive)	conduzco
reconocer (to recognize)	reconozco

 

* Hacer (to do/make), decir (to say), and satisfacer (to satisfy) do not follow the c to zc rule. The c changes to a g in the first person singular instead.