encontrar
/enkonˈtɾaɾ/
The English verb 'encounter' can be translated into Spanish as encontrar. Wiktionary also lists encontrarse / toparse con and enfrentarse a.
Meaning: meet (someone) or find (something), especially unexpectedly (verb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| encontrar | /enkonˈtɾaɾ/ |
| encontrarse / toparse con | |
| enfrentarse a | /enfɾentaɾse a/ (from spelling rules) |
This verb is used to express meeting someone or finding something, particularly in an unexpected way.
Which one should you use?
Use encontrar when the primary focus is on the act of finding or discovering someone or something. Use encontrarse con when you want to emphasize that the meeting was unexpected. If the encounter is a confrontation or involves facing a challenge or an opponent, use enfrentarse a.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the reflexive form encontrarse to mean 'to encounter someone', you must include the preposition con. The third-person singular preterite form of encontrar is encontró.
How do you pronounce it?
/enkonˈtɾaɾ/
Did you know?
- While encontrar means 'to find', the reflexive form encontrarse is frequently used to describe one's current state of health or mood, such as saying 'I find myself tired'.
- In some contexts, encontrarse is used to describe where someone is located geographically, such as saying a city se encuentra in the mountains.
- In some Spanish dialects, the expression toparse con is a common, more colloquial way to describe an accidental encounter, much like the English phrase 'to bump into' someone.
Examples in context
- En África no te encontrarás con tigres salvajes.In Africa, you don't encounter tigers in the wild.This sentence shows how to use the form encontrar regarding encountering tigers.Tatoeba #2112113 by marcelostockle, translation #12992207 by rul
- Tom no esperaba encontrarse con un ser humano en un lugar al que una ardilla se lo habría pensado dos veces antes de entrar.Tom didn't expect to encounter a human being in a place where a squirrel would have thought twice about entering.This sentence shows how to use the form encontrar regarding an unexpected encounter.Tatoeba #1939982 by Shishir, translation #1929059 by Scott
- Tenemos un encuentro importante más tarde.We have an important encounter later.
- Ayer me topé con Juan en el supermercado.Yesterday, I encountered Juan at the supermarket.
- Espero encontrar mi llave pronto.I hope to find my key soon.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and María are looking for her lost earring in the living room.
- María¿Puedes ayudarme a encontrar mi pendiente?Can you help me find my earring?
- JavierSí, lo buscaré debajo del sofá.Yes, I will look for it under the sofa.
- MaríaGracias, Javier, espero encontrarlo rápido.Thanks, Javier, I hope to find it quickly.
- JavierNo te preocupes, lo encontraremos.Don't worry, we will find it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “encounter” translations and entries encontrar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
