pensar

Asturian

Etymology

From Latin pēnsāre. Doublet of pesar.

Verb

pensar (first-person singular indicative present penso, past participle pensáu)

1. to think

Conjugation

Conjugation of pensar

infinitive		pensar
gerund		pensando
past participle		m pensáu, f pensada, n pensao, m pl pensaos, f pl pensaes
person		first singular yo	second singular tu	third singular él/elli	first plural nosotros/nós	second plural vosotros/vós	third plural ellos
indicative	present	penso	penses	pensa	pensamos	pensáis	pensen
	imperfect	pensaba	pensabes	pensaba	pensábemos, pensábamos	pensabeis, pensabais	pensaben
	preterite	pensé	pensasti, pensesti	pensó	pensemos	pensastis, pensestis	pensaron
	pluperfect	pensare, pensara	pensares, pensaras	pensare, pensara	pensáremos, pensáramos	pensareis, pensarais	pensaren, pensaran
	future	pensaré	pensarás	pensará	pensaremos	pensaréis	pensarán
	conditional	pensaría	pensaríes	pensaría	pensaríemos, pensaríamos	pensaríeis, pensaríais	pensaríen
subjunctive	present	pense	penses, pensas	pense	pensemos	penséis	pensen, pensan
	imperfect	pensare, pensara	pensares, pensaras	pensare, pensara	pensáremos, pensáramos	pensareis, pensarais	pensaren, pensaran
imperative		—	pensa	—	—	pensái	—

Derived terms

• pensamientu

Catalan

Etymology

Inherited from Latin pēnsāre. First attested in the 12th century. Doublet of pesar.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Northern, Balearic, Central) [pənˈsa]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [penˈsaɾ]
• IPA^(key): (Northwestern) [penˈsa]

• Audio (Catalonia):

  (file)

• IPA^(key): (Northern, Balearic, Central) [pənˈza]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [penˈzaɾ]
• IPA^(key): (Northwestern) [penˈza]
• Rhymes: -a(ɾ)

Verb

pensar (first-person singular present penso, first-person singular preterite pensí, past participle pensat); root stress: (Northern) /e̞/; (Balearic) /ə/; (Central) /ɛ/; (Northwestern, Valencia) /e/

1. to think
2. to think about, to think of, to have in mind [with en]
3. to think about, to be of the opinion about [with de]
4. to remember, to reminisce over [with a]

Conjugation

    Central Catalan conjugation of pensar (first conjugation)

infinitive			pensar
gerund			pensant
past participle				masculine		feminine
		singular		pensat		pensada
		plural		pensats		pensades
person		singular			plural
		first	second	third	first	second	third
indicative		jo	tu	ell/ella vostè	nosaltres nós	vosaltres vós	ells/elles vostès
	present	penso	penses	pensa	pensem	penseu	pensen
	imperfect	pensava	pensaves	pensava	pensàvem	pensàveu	pensaven
	future	pensaré	pensaràs	pensarà	pensarem	pensareu	pensaran
	preterite	pensí	pensares	pensà	pensàrem	pensàreu	pensaren
	conditional	pensaria	pensaries	pensaria	pensaríem	pensaríeu	pensarien
subjunctive		jo	tu	ell/ella vostè	nosaltres nós	vosaltres vós	ells/elles vostès
	present	pensi	pensis	pensi	pensem	penseu	pensin
	imperfect	pensés	pensessis	pensés	penséssim	penséssiu	pensessin
imperative		—	tu	vostè	nosaltres	vosaltres vós	vostès
	affirmative	—	pensa	pensi	pensem	penseu	pensin
	negative (no)	—	no pensis	no pensi	no pensem	no penseu	no pensin

Derived terms

• ni pensar-hi
• pensa
• pensada
• pensador
• pensament

Further reading

• “pensar”, in Diccionari de la llengua catalana [Dictionary of the Catalan Language] (in Catalan), second edition, Institute of Catalan Studies [Catalan: Institut d'Estudis Catalans], April 2007
• “pensar” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• Alcover, Antoni Maria; Moll, Francesc de Borja (1963), “pensar”, in Diccionari català-valencià-balear (in Catalan)

Franco-Provençal

Etymology

Inherited from Latin pensāre. Doublet of pesar (“to weigh”)

Verb

pensar (ORB, broad)

1. to think

References

• penser in DicoFranPro: Dictionnaire Français/Francoprovençal – on dicofranpro.llm.umontreal.ca
• pensar in Lo trèsor Arpitan – on arpitan.eu

Galician

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *(s)pend-

Proto-Indo-European *(s)péndeti

Proto-Italic *pendō

Latin pendō

Latin pēnsāre

Galician pensar

Inherited from Latin pēnsāre. Doublet of pesar.

Verb

pensar (first-person singular present penso, first-person singular preterite pensei, past participle pensado)

1. to think

Conjugation

    Conjugation of pensar

	Singular			Plural
	First-person (eu)	Second-person (ti)	Third-person (el / ela / Vde.)	First-person (nós)	Second-person (vós)	Third-person (eles / elas / Vdes.)
Infinitive
Impersonal	pensar
Personal	pensar	pensares	pensar	pensarmos	pensardes	pensaren
Gerund
	pensando
Past participle
Masculine	pensado			pensados
Feminine	pensada			pensadas
Indicative
Present	penso	pensas	pensa	pensamos	pensades	pensan
Imperfect	pensaba	pensabas	pensaba	pensabamos	pensabades	pensaban
Preterite	pensei	pensaches	pensou	pensamos	pensastes	pensaron
Pluperfect	pensara	pensaras	pensara	pensaramos	pensarades	pensaran
Future	pensarei	pensarás	pensará	pensaremos	pensaredes	pensarán
Conditional	pensaría	pensarías	pensaría	pensariamos	pensariades	pensarían
Subjunctive
Present	pense	penses	pense	pensemos	pensedes	pensen
Imperfect	pensase	pensases	pensase	pensásemos	pensásedes	pensasen
Future	pensar	pensares	pensar	pensarmos	pensardes	pensaren
Imperative
Affirmative		pensa	pense	pensemos	pensade	pensen
Negative (non)		non penses	non pense	non pensemos	non pensedes	non pensen

    Reintegrated conjugation of pensar (See Appendix:Reintegrationism)

	Singular			Plural
	First-person (eu)	Second-person (ti / tu)	Third-person (ele / ela / você)	First-person (nós)	Second-person (vós)	Third-person (eles / elas / vocês)
Infinitive
Impersonal	pensar
Personal	pensar	pensares	pensar	pensarmos	pensardes	pensarem
Gerund
	pensando
Past participle
Masculine	pensado			pensados
Feminine	pensada			pensadas
Indicative
Present	penso	pensas	pensa	pensamos	pensades, pensais	pensam
Imperfect	pensava	pensavas	pensava	pensávamos	pensávades, pensáveis, pensávais1	pensavam
Preterite	pensei	pensaste, pensache1	pensou	pensamos	pensastes	pensárom, pensaram
Pluperfect	pensara	pensaras	pensara	pensáramos	pensárades, pensáreis, pensárais1	pensaram
Future	pensarei	pensarás	pensará	pensaremos	pensaredes, pensareis	pensarám, pensarão
Conditional	pensaria	pensarias	pensaria	pensaríamos	pensaríades, pensaríeis, pensaríais1	pensariam
Subjunctive
Present	pense	penses	pense	pensemos	pensedes, penseis	pensem
Imperfect	pensasse	pensasses	pensasse	pensássemos	pensássedes, pensásseis	pensassem
Future	pensar	pensares	pensar	pensarmos	pensardes	pensarem
Imperative
Affirmative		pensa	pense	pensemos	pensade, pensai	pensem
Negative (nom)		nom penses	nom pense	nom pensemos	nom pensedes, nom penseis	nom pensem

¹Less recommended.

Derived terms

• pensamento

Ido

Etymology

From French penser, Italian pensare, Spanish pensar, all ultimately from Latin pēnsāre.

Verb

pensar (present tense pensas, past tense pensis, future tense pensos, imperative pensez, conditional pensus)

1. to think

Conjugation

Conjugation of pensar

		present		past		future
infinitive		pensar		pensir		pensor
tense		pensas		pensis		pensos
conditional		pensus		—		—
imperative		pensez		—		—
adjective active participle		pensanta		pensinta		pensonta
adverbial active participle		pensante		pensinte		pensonte
nominal active participle	singular	pensanto		pensinto		pensonto
	plural	pensanti		pensinti		pensonti
adjective passive participle		pensata		pensita		pensota
adverbial passive participle		pensate		pensite		pensote
nominal passive participle	singular	pensato		pensito		pensoto
	plural	pensati		pensiti		pensoti

Interlingua

Verb

pensar

1. to think

Conjugation

    Conjugation of pensar

infinitive		pensar
participle		present	perfect
		pensante	pensate
active		simple	perfect
	present	pensa	ha pensate
	past	pensava	habeva pensate
	future	pensara	habera pensate
	conditional	pensarea	haberea pensate
	imperative	pensa	—
passive		simple	perfect
	present	es pensate	ha essite pensate
	past	esseva pensate	habeva essite pensate
	future	essera pensate	habera essite pensate
	conditional	esserea pensate	haberea essite pensate
	imperative	sia pensate	—

Italian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /penˈsar/
• Rhymes: -ar
• Hyphenation: pen‧sàr

Verb

pensar (apocopated)

1. apocopic form of pensare

Ladino

Etymology

Inherited from Latin pēnsāre. Doublet of pesar.

Verb

pensar (Hebrew spelling פינסאר)

1. to think
   • 2000, David Altabé, “Ay koza triste en ser Sefaradi”, in Esther Benbassa, editor, Les Sépharades en littérature, page 164:

     Ay koza triste en ser Sefaradi,
     i pensar en las sivdades ke deshi,
     las glories del pasado ke pedri,
     i la soledad en ke me kayi

     There is something sad in being Sephardi
     and thinking of the cities that I've left,
     the glories of the past that I've lost
     and the loneliness into which I've fallen

Mirandese

Etymology

Inherited from Latin pēnsāre. Doublet of pesar.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pẽˈs̺aɾ/ [pɐ̃ˈs̺aɾ] (Central)
• IPA^(key): /pẽˈs̺aɾ/ [pɨ̃ˈs̺aɾ] (Sendinese)

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɾ
• Syllabification: pen‧sar

Verb

pensar (first-person singular present pienso, first-person singular preterite pensei, past participle pensado)

1. to think

Conjugation

    Conjugation of pensar (e-ie alternation)

infinitive			pensar
gerund			pensando
past participle				masculine		feminine
		singular		pensado		pensada
		plural		pensados		pensadas
		singular			plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
personal non-finite		you	tu	el/eilha	nós	bós	eilhes/eilhas
	infinitive	pensar	pensares	pensar	pensarmos	pensardes	pensáren
indicative		you	tu	el/eilha	nós	bós	eilhes/eilhas
	present	pienso	piensas	piensa	pensamos	pensais	piênsan
	imperfect	pensaba	pensabas	pensaba	pensábamos	pensábades	pensában
	preterite	pensei	penseste	pensou	pensemos	pensestes	pensórun
	pluperfect	pensara	pensaras	pensara	pensáramos	pensárades	pensáran
	future	pensarei	pensarás	pensará	pensaremos	pensareis	pensaran
	conditional	pensarie	pensaries	pensarie	pensariemos	pensariedes	pensarien
subjunctive		you	tu	el/eilha	nós	bós	eilhes/eilhas
	present	piense	pienses	piense	pensemos	penseis	piênsen
	imperfect	pensasse	pensasses	pensasse	pensássemos	pensássedes	pensássen
	future	pensar	pensares	pensar	pensarmos	pensardes	pensáren
imperative		you	tu	el/eilha	nós	bós	eilhes/eilhas
	affirmative	—	piensa	—	—	pensai	—

Related terms

• pensamiento (“thought”)
• pensatible (“thoughtful”)
• pensatibo

References

• Ferreira, Amadeu; Ferreira, José Pedro Cardona (2003–2022), “pensar”, in Dicionário de Mirandês-Português [Mirandese-Portuguese Dictionary].

Old Spanish

Etymology

Semi-learned borrowing from Latin pēnsāre. Doublet of pesar.

Verb

pensar

1. to think
   • c. 1140, “Cantar primero. Destierro del Cid”, in Cantar de Mio Cid:

     Allí piensan de aguijar, allí sueltan las riendas.

     There they think of prodding, there they loosen the reins.

Descendants

• Ladino: pensar
• Spanish: pensar

Portuguese

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *(s)pend-

Proto-Indo-European *(s)péndeti

Proto-Italic *pendō

Latin pendō

Latin pēnsāre

Portuguese pensar

Inherited from Latin pēnsāre. Doublet of pesar.

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /pẽˈsa(ʁ)/ [pẽˈsa(h)]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /pẽˈsa(ʁ)/ [pẽˈsa(h)]
  • (São Paulo) IPA^(key): /pẽˈsa(ɾ)/
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /pẽˈsa(ʁ)/ [pẽˈsa(χ)]
  • (Caipira) IPA^(key): /pẽˈsa(ɻ)/

 

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /pẽˈsaɾ/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /pẽˈsaɾ/
  • (Southern Portugal) IPA^(key): /pẽˈsa.ɾi/

• Audio (Portugal (Porto)):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: pen‧sar

Verb

pensar (first-person singular present penso, first-person singular preterite pensei, past participle pensado)

1. to think (communicate to oneself in one’s mind)
2. to conceive, intend

   As lojas foram pensadas exclusivamente para turistas.

   The shops have been conceived exclusively for tourists.

Conjugation

    Conjugation of pensar (See Appendix:Portuguese verbs)

	Singular			Plural
	First-person (eu)	Second-person (tu)	Third-person (ele / ela / você)	First-person (nós)	Second-person (vós)	Third-person (eles / elas / vocês)
Infinitive
Impersonal	pensar
Personal	pensar	pensares	pensar	pensarmos	pensardes	pensarem
Gerund
	pensando
Past participle
Masculine	pensado			pensados
Feminine	pensada			pensadas
Indicative
Present	penso	pensas	pensa	pensamos	pensais	pensam
Imperfect	pensava	pensavas	pensava	pensávamos	pensáveis	pensavam
Preterite	pensei	pensaste	pensou	pensamos1, pensámos2	pensastes	pensaram
Pluperfect	pensara	pensaras	pensara	pensáramos	pensáreis	pensaram
Future	pensarei	pensarás	pensará	pensaremos	pensareis	pensarão
Conditional	pensaria	pensarias	pensaria	pensaríamos	pensaríeis	pensariam
Subjunctive
Present	pense	penses	pense	pensemos	penseis	pensem
Imperfect	pensasse	pensasses	pensasse	pensássemos	pensásseis	pensassem
Future	pensar	pensares	pensar	pensarmos	pensardes	pensarem
Imperative
Affirmative		pensa	pense	pensemos	pensai	pensem
Negative (não)		não penses	não pense	não pensemos	não penseis	não pensem

¹Brazilian Portuguese.
²European Portuguese.

Quotations

For quotations using this term, see Citations:pensar.

Related terms

• pensamento

Further reading

• “pensar”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026
• “pensar”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026

Sabir

Etymology

From Spanish pensar (“to think”).

Verb

pensar

1. to think

References

• Feissat et Demonchy, Dictionnaire de la Langue Franque, ou Petit Mauresque

Spanish

Etymology

Inherited from Old Spanish pensar, from Latin pēnsāre (possibly semi-learned in this form). Doublet of pesar. Compare English pensive.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /penˈsaɾ/ [pẽnˈsaɾ]

• Audio (Spain):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɾ
• Syllabification: pen‧sar

Verb

pensar (first-person singular present pienso, first-person singular preterite pensé, past participle pensado)

1. to think, ponder

   pensar en/sobre algo ― think about/of something

   Pienso, luego existo.

   I think, therefore I am.

   (René Descartes)

   (translated from the original Latin to Spanish)

   ¿Por qué no pensé en eso antes?

   Why didn't I think of that before?

2. (also reflexive) to reflect, think through
3. to think of, think that (have an opinion on)

   Near-synonym: creer

   ¿Qué piensas de/sobre/acerca de/en cuanto a/respecto a/con respecto a/referente a la película?

   What do you think of the movie?

   ¿Qué piensas al respecto?

   What do you think of it/that?

   ¿Piensas/crees que la historia es buena?

   Do you think that history is good?

4. to intend, to plan, to want [with infinitive ‘to do something’]

   Nunca pensé lastimarte.

   I never meant to hurt you.

   No pienso afeitarme hasta que llegue el verano.

   I don't plan to shave until summer. / I'm absolutely not shaving until summer. (depending on tone)

   ¡No pienso ir allí!

   I am NOT going there!

Usage notes

When it precedes the conjunction que and a clause, the affirmative form can only be used before the indicative mood, and the use of the subjunctive is grammatically incorrect. The subjunctive mood can be used after interrogative or negative sentences to express doubt. The use of the indicative mood in these cases is grammatically incorrect.

Conjugation

    Conjugation of pensar (e-ie alternation) (See Appendix:Spanish verbs)

infinitive			pensar
gerund			pensando
past participle				masculine		feminine
		singular		pensado		pensada
		plural		pensados		pensadas
		singular			plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
indicative		yo	tú vos	él/ella/ello usted	nosotros nosotras	vosotros vosotras	ellos/ellas ustedes
	present	pienso	piensastú pensásvos	piensa	pensamos	pensáis	piensan
	imperfect	pensaba	pensabas	pensaba	pensábamos	pensabais	pensaban
	preterite	pensé	pensaste	pensó	pensamos	pensasteis	pensaron
	future	pensaré	pensarás	pensará	pensaremos	pensaréis	pensarán
	conditional	pensaría	pensarías	pensaría	pensaríamos	pensaríais	pensarían
subjunctive		yo	tú vos	él/ella/ello usted	nosotros nosotras	vosotros vosotras	ellos/ellas ustedes
	present	piense	piensestú pensésvos2	piense	pensemos	penséis	piensen
	imperfect (ra)	pensara	pensaras	pensara	pensáramos	pensarais	pensaran
	imperfect (se)	pensase	pensases	pensase	pensásemos	pensaseis	pensasen
	future1	pensare	pensares	pensare	pensáremos	pensareis	pensaren
imperative		—	tú vos	usted	nosotros nosotras	vosotros vosotras	ustedes
	affirmative		piensatú pensávos	piense	pensemos	pensad	piensen
	negative		no pienses	no piense	no pensemos	no penséis	no piensen

¹Rare; now chiefly used in legal language.
²Argentine and Uruguayan voseo prefers the tuteo-form for the present subjunctive.

    Selected combined forms of pensar (e-ie alternation)

These forms are generated automatically and may not actually be used. Pronoun usage varies by region.

		singular			plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
with infinitive pensar	dative	pensarme	pensarte	pensarle, pensarse	pensarnos	pensaros	pensarles, pensarse
	accusative	pensarme	pensarte	pensarlo, pensarla, pensarse	pensarnos	pensaros	pensarlos, pensarlas, pensarse
with gerund pensando	dative	pensándome	pensándote	pensándole, pensándose	pensándonos	pensándoos	pensándoles, pensándose
	accusative	pensándome	pensándote	pensándolo, pensándola, pensándose	pensándonos	pensándoos	pensándolos, pensándolas, pensándose
with informal second-person singular tuteo imperative piensa	dative	piénsame	piénsate	piénsale	piénsanos	not used	piénsales
	accusative	piénsame	piénsate	piénsalo, piénsala	piénsanos	not used	piénsalos, piénsalas
with informal second-person singular voseo imperative pensá	dative	pensame	pensate	pensale	pensanos	not used	pensales
	accusative	pensame	pensate	pensalo, pensala	pensanos	not used	pensalos, pensalas
with formal second-person singular imperative piense	dative	piénseme	not used	piénsele, piénsese	piénsenos	not used	piénseles
	accusative	piénseme	not used	piénselo, piénsela, piénsese	piénsenos	not used	piénselos, piénselas
with first-person plural imperative pensemos	dative	not used	pensémoste	pensémosle	pensémonos	pensémoos	pensémosles
	accusative	not used	pensémoste	pensémoslo, pensémosla	pensémonos	pensémoos	pensémoslos, pensémoslas
with informal second-person plural imperative pensad	dative	pensadme	not used	pensadle	pensadnos	pensaos	pensadles
	accusative	pensadme	not used	pensadlo, pensadla	pensadnos	pensaos	pensadlos, pensadlas
with formal second-person plural imperative piensen	dative	piénsenme	not used	piénsenle	piénsennos	not used	piénsenles, piénsense
	accusative	piénsenme	not used	piénsenlo, piénsenla	piénsennos	not used	piénsenlos, piénsenlas, piénsense

Derived terms

• dar que pensar
• despensar
• dos cabezas piensan mejor que una
• el día menos pensado
• grandes mentes piensan igual
• malpensar
• ni lo pienses
• ni pensarlo
• no pensar dos veces
• no pensarse dos veces
• pensar con la cabeza
• pensar dos veces
• pensar en la inmortalidad del cangrejo
• pensar en lo excusado
• piensa el ladrón que todos son de su condición
• piensa mal y acertarás
• pienso, luego existo
• repensar
• sin pensar

Related terms

• pensamiento
• pensativo
• pesar
• peso

Descendants

• Sabir: pensar

See also

• creer
• opinar

Further reading

• “pensar”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025
• Seco, Manuel; Andrés, Olimpia; Ramos, Gabino (2023), “pensar”, in Diccionario del español actual [Dictionary of Current Spanish] (in Spanish), third digital edition, Fundación BBVA
• “pensar”, in Diccionario panhispánico de dudas [Pan-Hispanic Dictionary of Doubts] (in Spanish), 2nd edition, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española]; Association of Academies of the Spanish Language [Spanish: Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española], 2023, →ISBN
• pensar | Diccionario del estudiante | RAE

Venetan

Etymology

From Latin pēnsāre. Doublet of pexar.

Verb

pensar

1. (intransitive) to think

Conjugation

* Venetan conjugation varies from one region to another. Hence, the following conjugation should be considered as typical, not as exhaustive.

Conjugation of pensar (first conjugation)

infinitive	pensar
auxiliary verb		èser	gerund		pensando
past participle		pensà
person	singular			plural
	first	second	third	first	second	third
indicative	mi	ti	eło / eła	noialtri / noialtre	voialtri / voialtre	łuri / łore
present	penso	(te) pensi	(el/ła) pensa	pensémo, pensòn	pensé	(i/łe) pensa
imperfect	pensava	(te) pensavi	(el/ła) pensava	pensàvimo	pensavi	(i/łe) pensava
future	pensarò	(te) pensarè	(el/ła) pensarà	pensarémo	pensarè	(i/łe) pensarà
conditional	pensarìa	(te) pensarisi	(el/ła) pensarìa	pensarìsimo	pensarisi	(i/łe) pensarìa
subjunctive	che mi	che ti	che eło / eła	che noialtri / noialtre	che voialtri / voialtre	che łuri / łore
present	pense, pensa	(te) pensi	(el/ła) pense, (el/ła) pensa	pensémo, pensone	pensé	(i/łe) pense, (i/łe) pensa
imperfect	pensase	(te) pensasi	(el/ła) pensase	pensàsimo	pensasi	(i/łe) pensase
imperative	—	ti	eło / eła	noialtri / noialtre	voialtri / voialtre	łuri / łore
	—	(te) pensa	(el/ła) pensa, (el/ła) pense	pensémo	pensé	(i/łe) pensa, (i/łe) pense