Funcionar Conjugation | How to Conjugate Funcionar in Spanish

Funcionar means “to work,” “to function,” or “to operate successfully.” You will learn its fully regular -AR conjugation and its intransitive machine, system, plan, and result patterns.

Funcionar conjugation at a glance

Verb type: Regular AR. RAE gives funciono, funcionas / funcionás, funciona, funcionamos, funcionáis, funcionan, with regular gerund funcionando and participle funcionado.

Funcionar gerund, past participle, and infinitive

The infinitive names the verb, the gerund supports progressive constructions, and the past participle combines with haber in compound forms. The participle funcionado remains invariant in those compounds.

Form	Spanish	Natural English guide
Infinitive	funcionar	to work / function
Gerund	funcionando	working / functioning
Past participle	funcionado	worked / functioned

Funcionar meaning and essential uses

RAE defines funcionar intransitively for a person, machine, or other entity carrying out its proper function: La máquina funciona. — “The machine works.”

RAE also uses it for something going or turning out well: El negocio funciona como esperaba. Because it is intransitive, do not attach a direct object meaning “operate something”; use another verb for that sense.

Funcionar regular conjugation pattern

The stem funcion- remains unchanged throughout the core paradigm. Forms such as funciono, funcioné, and funcione take ordinary -AR endings.

Progressive forms such as está funcionando are natural for ongoing operation. Imperative forms are morphologically valid but often marked because machines and systems are not normally addressed as agents; rhetorical uses do occur.

Funcionar indicative and periphrastic conjugations

Funcionar present tense conjugation

Present indicative (el presente de indicativo) — Use it for current situations, habits, facts, and contextually near-future reference. The table uses the verified regular paradigm.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	funciono	I work / function
Tú — you, singular informal	funcionas	you work / function
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	funciona	he / she works / functions; you work / function (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	funcionamos	we work / function
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	funcionáis	you work / function (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	funcionan	they work / function; you work / function (plural)

• El sistema funciona correctamente. — The system works correctly.

Funcionar preterite conjugation

Preterite (el pretérito perfecto simple / pretérito indefinido) — Use it for completed or bounded past events. The table uses the verified regular paradigm.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	funcioné	I worked / functioned
Tú — you, singular informal	funcionaste	you worked / functioned
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	funcionó	he / she worked / functioned; you worked / functioned (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	funcionamos	we worked / functioned
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	funcionasteis	you worked / functioned (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	funcionaron	they worked / functioned; you worked / functioned (plural)

• Ayer el programa funcionó sin errores. — Yesterday the program worked without errors.

Funcionar imperfect conjugation

Imperfect (el pretérito imperfecto) — Use it for habitual, descriptive, background, or ongoing past situations. Form it with the appropriate form of haber plus invariant funcionado.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	funcionaba	I used to work / function / was working / functioning
Tú — you, singular informal	funcionabas	you used to work / function / were working / functioning
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	funcionaba	he / she used to work / function / was working / functioning; you used to work / function / were working / functioning (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	funcionábamos	we used to work / function / were working / functioning
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	funcionabais	you used to work / function / were working / functioning (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	funcionaban	they used to work / function / were working / functioning; you used to work / function / were working / functioning (plural)

• Antes esta máquina funcionaba mejor. — This machine used to work better.

Funcionar present progressive

Present progressive — This verbal periphrasis focuses on an action or process in progress. Progressive estar funcionando is very natural for ongoing operation.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	estoy funcionando	I am working / functioning
Tú — you, singular informal	estás funcionando	you are working / functioning
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	está funcionando	he / she is working / functioning; you are working / functioning (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	estamos funcionando	we are working / functioning
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	estáis funcionando	you are working / functioning (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	están funcionando	they are working / functioning; you are working / functioning (plural)

• El motor está funcionando bien. — The engine is running well.

Funcionar near future conjugation

Near future — This verbal periphrasis expresses an intention, plan, or expected event. Form it with present ir + a + funcionar.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	voy a funcionar	I am going to work / function
Tú — you, singular informal	vas a funcionar	you are going to work / function
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	va a funcionar	he / she is going to work / function; you are going to work / function (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	vamos a funcionar	we are going to work / function
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	vais a funcionar	you are going to work / function (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	van a funcionar	they are going to work / function; you are going to work / function (plural)

• El nuevo sistema va a funcionar con menos energía. — The new system is going to work with less energy.

Funcionar future tense conjugation

Simple future (el futuro simple) — Use it for future reference and, where useful, probability. The table uses the verified regular paradigm.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	funcionaré	I will work / function
Tú — you, singular informal	funcionarás	you will work / function
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	funcionará	he / she will work / function; you will work / function (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	funcionaremos	we will work / function
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	funcionaréis	you will work / function (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	funcionarán	they will work / function; you will work / function (plural)

• La solución funcionará si todos siguen el proceso. — The solution will work if everyone follows the process.

Funcionar conditional conjugation

Conditional (el condicional simple) — Use it for hypothetical outcomes, softened statements, or related conditional meanings. The table uses the verified regular paradigm.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	funcionaría	I would work / function
Tú — you, singular informal	funcionarías	you would work / function
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	funcionaría	he / she would work / function; you would work / function (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	funcionaríamos	we would work / function
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	funcionaríais	you would work / function (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	funcionarían	they would work / function; you would work / function (plural)

• Ese plan funcionaría mejor con más tiempo. — That plan would work better with more time.

Funcionar present perfect conjugation

Present perfect (el pretérito perfecto compuesto) — Use it for completed events connected to a present reference frame; regional distribution varies. Form it with the appropriate form of haber plus invariant funcionado.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	he funcionado	I have worked / functioned
Tú — you, singular informal	has funcionado	you have worked / functioned
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	ha funcionado	he / she has worked / functioned; you have worked / functioned (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	hemos funcionado	we have worked / functioned
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	habéis funcionado	you have worked / functioned (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	han funcionado	they have worked / functioned; you have worked / functioned (plural)

• El método ha funcionado muy bien. — The method has worked very well.

Funcionar past perfect conjugation

Past perfect (el pretérito pluscuamperfecto) — Use it for an event completed before another past reference point. Form it with the appropriate form of haber plus invariant funcionado.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	había funcionado	I had worked / functioned
Tú — you, singular informal	habías funcionado	you had worked / functioned
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	había funcionado	he / she had worked / functioned; you had worked / functioned (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	habíamos funcionado	we had worked / functioned
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	habíais funcionado	you had worked / functioned (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	habían funcionado	they had worked / functioned; you had worked / functioned (plural)

• La alarma ya había funcionado correctamente en las pruebas. — The alarm had already worked correctly in the tests.

Funcionar future perfect conjugation

Future perfect (el futuro perfecto) — Use it for an event expected to be completed before a future reference point. Form it with the appropriate form of haber plus invariant funcionado.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	habré funcionado	I will have worked / functioned
Tú — you, singular informal	habrás funcionado	you will have worked / functioned
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	habrá funcionado	he / she will have worked / functioned; you will have worked / functioned (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	habremos funcionado	we will have worked / functioned
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	habréis funcionado	you will have worked / functioned (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	habrán funcionado	they will have worked / functioned; you will have worked / functioned (plural)

• Para entonces los nuevos sistemas habrán funcionado durante meses. — By then the new systems will have worked for months.

Funcionar conditional perfect conjugation

Conditional perfect (el condicional compuesto) — Use it for a hypothetical completed outcome. Form it with the appropriate form of haber plus invariant funcionado.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	habría funcionado	I would have worked / functioned
Tú — you, singular informal	habrías funcionado	you would have worked / functioned
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	habría funcionado	he / she would have worked / functioned; you would have worked / functioned (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	habríamos funcionado	we would have worked / functioned
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	habríais funcionado	you would have worked / functioned (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	habrían funcionado	they would have worked / functioned; you would have worked / functioned (plural)

• La estrategia habría funcionado con mejores datos. — The strategy would have worked with better data.

Funcionar subjunctive conjugations

Funcionar present subjunctive conjugation

Present subjunctive (el presente de subjuntivo) — Use it in subordinate environments involving wishes, influence, emotion, doubt or denial, evaluation, necessity, possibility, or non-specific reference. The table uses the verified regular paradigm.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	funcione	that I work / function
Tú — you, singular informal	funciones	that you work / function
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	funcione	that he / she work / function; that you work / function (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	funcionemos	that we work / function
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	funcionéis	that you work / function (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	funcionen	that they work / function; that you work / function (plural)

• Espero que el sistema funcione. — I hope the system works.

Funcionar imperfect subjunctive conjugation

Imperfect subjunctive (el imperfecto de subjuntivo) — The main table uses the -ra series. The accepted -se series is also valid in many contexts and is demonstrated after the table. Form it with the appropriate form of haber plus invariant funcionado.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	funcionara	that I worked / functioned
Tú — you, singular informal	funcionaras	that you worked / functioned
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	funcionara	that he / she worked / functioned; that you worked / functioned (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	funcionáramos	that we worked / functioned
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	funcionarais	that you worked / functioned (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	funcionaran	that they worked / functioned; that you worked / functioned (plural)

• Querían que el método funcionara en todos los casos. — They wanted the method to work in all cases.
• Dudaban que el programa funcionase sin conexión. — They doubted that the program would work without a connection.

Funcionar future subjunctive conjugation

Future subjunctive (el futuro de subjuntivo) — Rare in modern everyday Spanish. It survives mainly in formal, legal, proverbial, literary, or historical contexts. These rare reference forms belong mainly to formal, legal, proverbial, literary, or historical registers.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	funcionare	if / when I should work / function
Tú — you, singular informal	funcionares	if / when you should work / function
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	funcionare	if / when he / she should work / function; if / when you should work / function (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	funcionáremos	if / when we should work / function
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	funcionareis	if / when you should work / function (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	funcionaren	if / when they should work / function; if / when you should work / function (plural)

• Si el mecanismo funcionare de forma anómala, deberá detenerse. — If the mechanism should function abnormally, it must be stopped.

Funcionar present perfect subjunctive conjugation

Present perfect subjunctive (el pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo) — Use it when a completed event appears inside a present- or future-oriented subjunctive environment. Form it with the appropriate form of haber plus invariant funcionado.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	haya funcionado	that I have worked / functioned
Tú — you, singular informal	hayas funcionado	that you have worked / functioned
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	haya funcionado	that he / she has worked / functioned; that you have worked / functioned (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	hayamos funcionado	that we have worked / functioned
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	hayáis funcionado	that you have worked / functioned (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	hayan funcionado	that they have worked / functioned; that you have worked / functioned (plural)

• Me alegra que el plan haya funcionado. — I am glad that the plan worked.

Funcionar past perfect subjunctive conjugation

Past perfect subjunctive (el pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo) — The main table uses hubiera; hubiese is an accepted auxiliary alternative in many contexts and is demonstrated after the table. Form it with the appropriate form of haber plus invariant funcionado.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	hubiera funcionado	that I had worked / functioned
Tú — you, singular informal	hubieras funcionado	that you had worked / functioned
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	hubiera funcionado	that he / she had worked / functioned; that you had worked / functioned (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	hubiéramos funcionado	that we had worked / functioned
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	hubierais funcionado	that you had worked / functioned (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	hubieran funcionado	that they had worked / functioned; that you had worked / functioned (plural)

• Si el sistema hubiera funcionado bien, no habríamos reiniciado. — If the system had worked well, we would not have restarted.
• Si el método hubiese funcionado antes, lo habríamos mantenido. — If the method had worked earlier, we would have kept it.

Funcionar future perfect subjunctive conjugation

Future perfect subjunctive (el futuro perfecto de subjuntivo) — Rare in modern everyday Spanish. Treat it as a formal or historical reference form, not an everyday conversational target. Form it with the appropriate form of haber plus invariant funcionado.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	hubiere funcionado	if / when I should have worked / functioned
Tú — you, singular informal	hubieres funcionado	if / when you should have worked / functioned
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	hubiere funcionado	if / when he / she should have worked / functioned; if / when you should have worked / functioned (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	hubiéremos funcionado	if / when we should have worked / functioned
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	hubiereis funcionado	if / when you should have worked / functioned (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	hubieren funcionado	if / when they should have worked / functioned; if / when you should have worked / functioned (plural)

• Si los dispositivos hubieren funcionado fuera de rango, deberán revisarse. — If the devices should have operated outside the range, they must be checked.

Funcionar imperative and commands

Commands address another person directly. The nosotros/nosotras row is a present-subjunctive form used with exhortative “let’s…” value.

Funcionar affirmative commands

Usage-sensitive. These forms are morphologically valid, but ordinary direct commands are uncommon because the verb usually describes a state or operation rather than a controllable action. Treat the table mainly as reference morphology, with rhetorical or personified uses possible.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Tú — you, singular informal	funciona	work
Usted — you, singular formal	funcione	work (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we; let’s…	funcionemos	let’s work
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	funcionad	work (plural, mainly Spain)
Ustedes — you, plural	funcionen	work (plural)

• Funciona, por favor. — Work, please. (rhetorical address to a device)

Funcionar negative commands

Usage-sensitive. Negative imperative morphology is valid, but direct commands remain uncommon outside rhetorical, literary, technical-personified, or deliberately contrastive contexts.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Tú — you, singular informal	no funciones	do not work
Usted — you, singular formal	no funcione	do not work (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we; let’s…	no funcionemos	let’s not work
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	no funcionéis	do not work (plural, mainly Spain)
Ustedes — you, plural	no funcionen	do not work (plural)

• No funciones de esa manera durante la prueba. — Do not operate that way during the test. (marked personified/reference command)

Common constructions with Funcionar

These patterns show sentence frames that materially affect how the target verb is used.

• algo funciona. — something works / functions.
• funcionar bien / mal / correctamente. — to work well / badly / correctly.
• funcionar como + role / system / mechanism. — to function as something.
• funcionar con + resource / method. — to work with / run on something.

Example sentences with Funcionar

These examples reinforce useful forms and contexts already taught in the lesson.

• La aplicación no funciona. — The application does not work.
• Este método funciona muy bien. — This method works very well.
• ¿Cómo funciona este aparato? — How does this device work?
• Espero que todo funcione mañana. — I hope everything works tomorrow.
• Los cambios han funcionado. — The changes have worked.
• La máquina sigue funcionando. — The machine keeps working.

Regional and usage notes for Funcionar

The core tables retain tú, usted, vosotros/vosotras, and ustedes. Voseo changes some second-person singular forms where vos is used.

• Vos funcionás mejor con instrucciones claras. — You function better with clear instructions. (voseo; person-oriented use)
• Funcioná como un equipo. — Function as a team. (affirmative vos; marked exhortative use)

Funcionar is fully regular but normally intransitive. Use it for a machine, system, person, plan, or method performing properly or producing the intended result; treat direct imperatives as context-sensitive rather than routine.