What does pensar mean and when do you use it in Spanish?

Pensar means to think. Combined with prepositions, the meaning shifts: pensar en (think about / have on mind), pensar de (have an opinion about), pensar que (think that), pensar + infinitive (plan / intend to).

How does pensar conjugate in the present tense?

Pienso, piensas, piensa, pensamos, pensáis, piensan. Takes e→ie stem change in yo / tú / él / ellos. Nosotros / vosotros keep the e (no change).

What's the preterite of pensar?

Pensé, pensaste, pensó, pensamos, pensasteis, pensaron. Fully regular -ar preterite, stem changes disappear (no pien-).

What's the difference between pensar en and pensar de?

Pensar en = to think about / have on your mind (Pienso en ti = I'm thinking about you). Pensar de = to have an opinion about (¿Qué piensas de él? = What do you think of him?). Mixing them up flips the meaning.

How can I get better at conjugating pensar?

Pensar shows up constantly in opinions, plans, and reflections. Exposure to pienso / piensas / pensé / pensaba in real conversations is the fastest path. Parrot's daily videos feature these forms in everyday context.

Spanish grammar · Intermediate

Pensar Conjugation: Every Tense with Examples

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Pensar means to think. Present takes e→ie stem change (pienso, piensas, piensa). Preterite, imperfect, and future are fully regular. Combined with prepositions, meaning shifts: pensar en (to think about), pensar de (to think of / opinion), pensar + infinitive (to plan to).

Pienso que sí.

I think so.

What it is

Pensar means to think. Present takes the e→ie stem change (pienso, piensas, piensa, pensamos, pensáis, piensan). Preterite (pensé), imperfect (pensaba), and future (pensaré) are fully regular, only the present is irregular.

In Pienso que sí (I think so), pienso is the yo present with the e→ie change. Pensar + que introduces an opinion or belief.

How to spot it

Present has stem-change pien- in yo / tú / él / ellos. Nosotros / vosotros stay pensa- (no change).

¿Qué piensas? — What do you think?
Pensamos viajar en julio. — We plan to travel in July.
Pienso en ti todos los días. — I think about you every day.

Pensar + infinitive = to plan to do something, different from pensar en (think about) or pensar de (have an opinion about).

Pensar Conjugation Quick Reference

Pensar at a glance, the most-used forms across tenses

Person	Present	Preterite	Imperfect	Future	Subjunctive
yo	pienso	pensé	pensaba	pensaré	piense
tú	piensas	pensaste	pensabas	pensarás	pienses
él/ella/Ud.	piensa	pensó	pensaba	pensará	piense
nosotros	pensamos	pensamos	pensábamos	pensaremos	pensemos
vosotros	pensáis	pensasteis	pensabais	pensaréis	penséis
ellos/Uds.	piensan	pensaron	pensaban	pensarán	piensen

Common Pensar Conjugation Examples in Spanish

Pensar covers thinking, opining, planning, and reflecting:

Thinking About (Pensar En)

Pienso en mi familia.: I think about my family.
¿En qué piensas?: What are you thinking about?
Siempre pienso en ti.: I always think about you.

Pensar en = think about / have someone on your mind.

Opinion (Pensar De / Pensar Que)

¿Qué piensas de él?: What do you think of him?
Pienso que es buena idea.: I think it's a good idea.
Pensamos que tienes razón.: We think you're right.

Pensar de = opinion about. Pensar que = think that (introducing a statement).

Planning (Pensar + Infinitive)

Pienso ir mañana.: I'm planning to go tomorrow.
¿Qué piensas hacer?: What are you planning to do?
Pensamos viajar a México.: We're planning to travel to Mexico.

Pensar + infinitive = to plan / intend to. Common everyday way to express future plans.

Reflecting / Subjunctive

No pienso que sea verdad.: I don't think it's true. (subjunctive after negative)
Piénsalo bien.: Think it over carefully.
Estoy pensando en irme.: I'm thinking about leaving.

Negative pensar (no pienso que) triggers subjunctive in the following clause.

How to Conjugate Pensar Across Tenses

Present, E→Ie Stem Change

Yo / tú / él / ellos take e→ie: pienso, piensas, piensa, piensan. Nosotros / vosotros keep the e: pensamos, pensáis.

Yo pienso, tú piensas, él piensa, nosotros pensamos, vosotros pensáis, ellos piensan.

I think, you think, he thinks, we think, you all think, they think.

Same e→ie pattern as querer (quiero), entender (entiendo), empezar (empiezo), preferir (prefiero).

Preterite, Regular

Fully regular -ar preterite: pensé, pensaste, pensó, pensamos, pensasteis, pensaron. No stem change.

Pensé en ti ayer. Pensaron que era broma.

I thought of you yesterday. They thought it was a joke.

Stem changes disappear in preterite for -ar verbs. Pensé / hablé / canté all follow the regular pattern.

Imperfect / Future, Regular

Imperfect: pensaba, pensabas, pensaba, pensábamos, pensabais, pensaban. Future: pensaré, pensarás, pensará. Both fully regular.

Antes pensaba diferente. Pensaré en tu propuesta.

Before, I thought differently. I'll think about your proposal.

Only the present has stem changes, every other simple tense is regular -ar.

Subjunctive, Same E→Ie Pattern

Present subjunctive: piense, pienses, piense, pensemos, penséis, piensen. Same stem-change pattern as present indicative.

Quiero que pienses bien la respuesta.

I want you to think the answer over carefully.

Nosotros / vosotros stay regular in subjunctive too: pensemos, penséis.

Common Mistakes with Pensar Conjugation

Incorrect: Yo penso que sí. — I think so. (wrong, present takes e→ie)

Correct: Yo pienso que sí. — I think so.

Pensar takes e→ie in the yo / tú / él / ellos present forms. Pienso, not penso.

Incorrect: Pienso de ti todos los días. — I think about you every day. (wrong, pensar de ≠ pensar en)

Correct: Pienso en ti todos los días. — I think about you every day.

Pensar en = to think about (have on your mind). Pensar de = to think of (opinion). Mixing them up is one of the most common preposition errors.

Incorrect: Pienso ir mañana, pero no estoy seguro. — I'm planning to go tomorrow but I'm not sure. (this is correct, included for contrast with English think of)

Correct: Pienso ir mañana, pero no estoy seguro. — I'm planning to go tomorrow but I'm not sure.

Pensar + infinitive = to plan / intend to. Often translated to English think of doing X. Don't add que before the infinitive, direct construction.

Pensar + Preposition

Pensar En, Think About / Have On Mind

Use pensar en when someone or something is occupying your thoughts.

Pienso mucho en mi madre.: I think about my mother a lot.
¿En qué piensas?: What are you thinking about?

En is the default preposition for thinking about someone or something.

Pensar De, Opinion About

Use pensar de when asking or giving an opinion about someone or something.

¿Qué piensas de la película?: What do you think of the movie?
Pienso bien de él.: I have a good opinion of him.

De expresses an opinion, not just having someone on your mind.

Pensar Conjugation FAQs

What does pensar mean and when do you use it in Spanish?: Pensar means to think. Combined with prepositions, the meaning shifts: pensar en (think about / have on mind), pensar de (have an opinion about), pensar que (think that), pensar + infinitive (plan / intend to).
How does pensar conjugate in the present tense?: Pienso, piensas, piensa, pensamos, pensáis, piensan. Takes e→ie stem change in yo / tú / él / ellos. Nosotros / vosotros keep the e (no change).
What's the preterite of pensar?: Pensé, pensaste, pensó, pensamos, pensasteis, pensaron. Fully regular -ar preterite, stem changes disappear (no pien-).
What's the difference between pensar en and pensar de?: Pensar en = to think about / have on your mind (Pienso en ti = I'm thinking about you). Pensar de = to have an opinion about (¿Qué piensas de él? = What do you think of him?). Mixing them up flips the meaning.
How can I get better at conjugating pensar?: Pensar shows up constantly in opinions, plans, and reflections. Exposure to pienso / piensas / pensé / pensaba in real conversations is the fastest path. Parrot's daily videos feature these forms in everyday context.