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encontrar

to find

verb ehn-kohn-TRAHR Common

Origin: From en- + contra ('against'), i.e., 'to come up against'.

Also means

to meet; to encounter

Usage Note

Encontrar is a stem-changing verb (o→ue): encuentro, encuentras, encuentra. The reflexive encontrarse means 'to meet up' or 'to feel' (in certain regions): se encuentran bien ('they are feeling well'). It is the standard verb for finding lost objects, whereas hallar is more literary.

Examples

"No encuentro mis llaves."

Natural Translation

I can't find my keys.

Literal Translation

Not I-find my keys

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