-ar verb C1 · Advanced

Conjugate encarcelar in Spanish

to imprison, to jail

encarcelar is a regular -ar verb ranked #1497 among the most common Spanish verbs. For example: "El juez ordenó encarcelar al acusado inmediatamente." (The judge ordered to imprison the defendant immediately.). Use the tables below for full conjugation across all 7 tenses.

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Describes current actions, habits, and general truths. The most frequently used tense — master it first.

Pronoun Conjugation
yo encarcelo
encarcelas
él/ella/Ud. encarcela
nosotros encarcelamos
vosotros encarceláis
ellos/ellas/Uds. encarcelan
Example

Yo encarcelo todos los días.

I imprison, to jail every day.

Describes completed past actions with a clear start and end. Key signals: ayer, el lunes pasado, de repente.

Pronoun Conjugation
yo encarcelé
encarcelaste
él/ella/Ud. encarceló
nosotros encarcelamos
vosotros encarcelasteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. encarcelaron
Example

Lo encarcelaron por un delito que no cometió.

They imprisoned him for a crime he did not commit.

Describes habitual past actions, background context, and ongoing states. Key signals: siempre, normalmente, cuando era niño.

Pronoun Conjugation
yo encarcelaba
encarcelabas
él/ella/Ud. encarcelaba
nosotros encarcelábamos
vosotros encarcelabais
ellos/ellas/Uds. encarcelaban
Example

El régimen encarcelaba a los disidentes políticos.

The regime imprisoned political dissidents.

Describes future events and predictions. In everyday speech, ir a + infinitive is often preferred for planned events.

Pronoun Conjugation
yo encarcelaré
encarcelarás
él/ella/Ud. encarcelará
nosotros encarcelaremos
vosotros encarcelaréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. encarcelarán
Example

Mañana yo encarcelaré.

Tomorrow I will imprison, to jail.

Expresses what would happen under certain conditions — equivalent to "would" in English. Also used for polite requests.

Pronoun Conjugation
yo encarcelaría
encarcelarías
él/ella/Ud. encarcelaría
nosotros encarcelaríamos
vosotros encarcelaríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. encarcelarían
Example

Si pudiera, yo encarcelaría.

If I could, I would imprison, to jail.

Used in clauses expressing wishes, doubt, emotion, or uncertainty — typically after que. Triggers: querer, esperar, dudar, ojalá.

Pronoun Conjugation
yo encarcele
encarceles
él/ella/Ud. encarcele
nosotros encarcelemos
vosotros encarceléis
ellos/ellas/Uds. encarcelen
Example

Espero que tú encarceles.

I hope that you imprison, to jail.

Used to give commands and direct requests. Affirmative and negative forms differ significantly in Spanish.

Pronoun Conjugation
yo -
encarcela
él/ella/Ud. encarcele
nosotros encarcelemos
vosotros encarcelad
ellos/ellas/Uds. encarcelen
Example

¡Encarcela!

Imprison, to jail!

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Type the correct conjugation for each prompt.

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Example sentences

Common phrases with encarcelar

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