As you may be aware of, irregular verbs are the ones that have some kind of alteration in their radical or endings. Let’s take a look at some of these changes in Spanish verbs that have to do with sound (eufonía = good sound).

Such changes are not exactly irregularities because verbs keep the same sound but add or change a letter. These changes occur mainly in the Presente de Indicativo and Presente de Subjuntivo forms.

Ending: -car
Spelling change: C for QU
Before: E
Example: pecar – pequé, peque; abarcar – abarqué, abarque; buscar – busqué, busque

Ending: -gar
Spelling change: C for GU
Before: E
Example: entregar – entregué, entregue; apagar – apagué, apague; encargar – encargué, encargue

Ending: -zar
Spelling change: Z for C
Before: E
Example: utilizar – utulicé – utilice; aterrizar – aterricé – aterrice; rezar – recé – rece

Ending: -cer, -cir
Spelling change: C for Z
Before: A/O
Example: vencer – venzo, venza; ejercer – ejerzo, ejerza; uncir – unzo, unza; resarcir – resarzo, resarza

Ending: -ger, -gir
Spelling change: G for J
Before: A/O
Example: recoger – reocojo, recoja; proteger – protejo, proteja; afligir – aflijo, aflija; erigir – erijo, erija

Ending: -guir
Spelling change: deletion of U
Before: A/O
Example: conseguir – consigo, consiga; perserguir – persigo, persiga; extinguir – extingo, extinga

Ending: -quir
Spelling change: QU for C
Before: A/O
Example: delinquir – delinco, delinca

As you can see, the sound doesn’t change, only the spelling. So when reading a text, pay attention to how these irregular forms are used.

Take care and see you next time!