The pattern rule

Verbs like conocer and conducir add a z before the c in the yo present tense only: conozco, conduzco. This produces a "zc" cluster unique to this verb group. The change does NOT affect any other present-tense forms or any other tenses.

💡 Tip Because the present subjunctive is formed from the yo present stem, verbs that are irregular in yo present will have that irregularity throughout the entire subjunctive. So conocer → conozco → conozca, conozcas, conozca, conozcamos, conozcáis, conozcan.

Example: conocer (to know (people/places)) — Present

Irregular forms are highlighted in red. Regular forms for comparison are shown in grey where they differ.

Pronoun Actual form Regular would be
yo conozco* conoco
conoces
él/ella conoce
nosotros conocemos
vosotros conocéis
ellos/ellas conocen
See full conjugation of conocer →

Frequently asked questions

What is the yo form irregularity in -cer and -cir verbs?

Verbs ending in a vowel + -cer or -cir insert a z before the c in the yo present form: conocer → conozco, conducir → conduzco. This is the only affected indicative form — tú, él, nosotros etc. are regular.

Does this apply to hacer (to do)?

No — hacer ends in -cer but is preceded by a consonant (h), so it follows different rules. Hacer is a go-verb: hago. The vowel + -cer rule applies to verbs like conocer, ofrecer, parecer, and nacer, where the -cer is preceded by a vowel.

Are conducir and traducir in this group?

Yes — conducir and traducir fall into this group (-cir verbs). Their yo present forms are conduzco and traduzco respectively. They also have an irregular preterite stem (conduj-, traduj-) which places them in the broader irregular category.

All 158 -cer/-cir verbs verbs — ordered by frequency

Sorted by how commonly each verb appears in everyday Spanish. Start with rank #1 and work down.

#16
parecer to seem / to appear
#30
conocer to know (people/places)
#44
producir to produce
#52
aparecer to appear
#70
reconocer to recognize
#71
nacer to be born
#72
dirigir to direct / to manage
#81
ofrecer to offer
#113
establecer to establish
#115
coger to take / to grab
#139
conducir to drive / to conduct
#143
recoger to pick up / to collect
#144
proteger to protect
#156
reducir to reduce
#218
crecer to grow
#219
envejecer to age / to grow old
#295
convencer to convince
#307
agradecer to thank / to be grateful
#323
exigir to demand / to require
#327
obedecer to obey
#328
desobedecer to disobey
#365
traducir to translate
#457
distinguir to distinguish
#489
introducir to introduce / to insert
#511
encargar to entrust, to order
#519
prolongar to prolong, to extend
#529
desplazar to displace, to move
#547
sumergir to submerge, to immerse
#551
deslizar to slide
#557
simpatizar to sympathize
#580
interrogar to interrogate
#583
tragar to swallow
#609
convocar to convene, to call together
#626
simbolizar to symbolize
#640
arriesgar to risk
#646
enlazar to link, to connect
#674
acoger to welcome, to take in
#681
especificar to specify
#686
abarcar to encompass, to cover
#688
catalogar to catalog, to classify
#693
trazar to trace, to draw
#703
fiscalizar to oversee, to audit
#705
implicar to imply, to involve
#714
intensificar to intensify
#770
alegar to allege, to claim
#825
picar to sting, to chop, to bite
#846
protagonizar to star in, to lead
#888
otorgar to grant, to award
#927
ahogar to drown, to suffocate
#929
predicar to preach
#934
bifurcar to bifurcate, to fork
#946
restringir to restrict
#948
purificar to purify
#1262
reemplazar to replace
#1270
sintetizar to synthesize, to summarize
#1290
tranquilizar to calm, to reassure
#1300
inculcar to instill, to inculcate
#1318
hostigar to harass
#1326
tamizar to sieve, to sift
#1328
enmarcar to frame
#1344
emboscar to ambush
#1345
rubricar to sign, to initial
#1350
desembocar to flow into, to lead to
#1352
aguar to water down, to spoil
#1363
abrigar to shelter, to wrap up
#1379
sofocar to suffocate, to stifle
#1389
infligir to inflict
#1397
apaciguar to appease, to calm
#1400
propagar to propagate, to spread
#1439
suavizar to soften, to smooth
#1445
enfocar to focus, to approach
#1457
albergar to shelter, to house
#1462
infringir to infringe, to violate
#1482
satirizar to satirize
#1489
doblegar to bend, to force to yield
#1492
capitalizar to capitalize
#1502
glorificar to glorify
#1544
congregar to congregate, to gather
#1568
confiscar to confiscate
#1569
entrelazar to intertwine
#1579
adjudicar to award, to adjudicate
#1581
canalizar to channel
#1589
atomizar to atomize, to fragment
#1648
relegar to relegate
#1666
mascar to chew
#1682
recalcar to emphasize, to stress
#1689
aterrizar to land (aircraft)
#1709
embargar to seize or embargo
#1716
desembarcar to disembark
#1727
abanicar to fan
#1732
descalificar to disqualify
#1736
encauzar to channel or direct
#1741
esbozar to sketch or outline
#1747
pontificar to pontificate
#1761
rezagar to leave behind
#1770
roncar to snore
#1783
caducar to expire
#1804
vulgarizar to vulgarize, to popularize
#1829
cristalizar to crystallize
#1832
encabezar to head, to lead
#1834
trucar to trick, to doctor
#1835
desvanecer to vanish, to fade
#1862
estancar to stagnate
#1866
desligar to detach
#1867
magnetizar to magnetize
#1868
cicatrizar to heal
#1879
dignificar to dignify
#1887
indemnizar to compensate
#1888
reivindicar to claim
#1892
arraigar to take root
#1922
agudizar to sharpen, to worsen
#1924
cuantificar to quantify
#1938
canonizar to canonize
#1974
revitalizar to revitalize
#1996
catalizar to catalyze
#1998
trastocar to disrupt, to mix up
#2102
dedicarse to dedicate oneself
#2104
delegar to delegate
#2107
desahogar to vent
#2108
destacar to stand out
#2111
encargarse to take charge
#2121
fingir to pretend
#2131
fosilizarse to fossilize
#2153
destacarse to distinguish oneself
#2155
estabilizar to stabilize
#2156
evocar to evoke
#2159
esperanzar to give hope
#2173
hipnotizar to hypnotize
#2184
galvanizar to galvanize
#2187
halagar to flatter
#2194
encogerse to shrink
#2206
indagar to investigate
#2216
legalizar to legalize
#2219
ligar to tie / to flirt
#2220
localizar to locate
#2224
masticar to chew
#2225
mecer to rock / to swing
#2227
modernizar to modernize
#2229
movilizar to mobilize
#2230
normalizar to normalize
#2249
izar to hoist / to raise (a flag)
#2254
lanzarse to throw oneself / to rush
#2257
machacar to crush / to hammer
#2302
oscurecer to darken, to get dark
#2304
padecer to suffer, to endure
#2307
poseer to possess, to own
#2324
palidecer to turn pale, to pale
#2328
pertenecer to belong
#2343
rehusar to refuse, to decline
#2345
remolcar to tow
#2348
reunir to gather, to bring together
#2350
pacificar to pacify, to bring peace
#2353
platicar to chat, to talk (Latin America)
#2365
rozar to graze, to brush against
#2368
paralizar to paralyze, to bring to a halt
#2369
recargar to recharge, to reload
#2370
rectificar to rectify, to correct
#2384
priorizarse to prioritize oneself

Other irregular verb patterns

Practise these verbs with spaced repetition to actually remember them.