Conjugate-zar verbs in the preterite tense in Spanish (El Pretérito Indefinido)

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Some verbs in Spanish end in -zar. They undergo a consonant change when they are conjugated in the preterite tense.

Learn about -ZAR verbs in  El Pretérito Indefinido in Spanish

Verbs ending in-zar in Spanish, like organizar (to organise), analizar (to analyse), cazar (to hunt) are irregular in El Pretérito Indefinido because the spelling changes for pronunciation reasons in the first person singular (yo).

Conjugation of "organizar" in El Pretérito Indefinido in Spanish

yo organicé
organizaste
él / ella / Ud. organizó
nosotros / nosotras  organizamos
vosotros / vosotras  organizasteis
ellos / ellas / Uds. organizaron
Notice that the -z- is replaced with -c-. However, apart from the yo form, all the other endings are the same as those of regular -ar verbs: -aste, -o, -amos, -asteis, -aron.


Have a look at  and listen to these examples.

Crucé la calle con mucho cuidado.I crossed the street very carefully.

Organicé una fiesta sorpresa para Laura.I organised a surprise party for Laura.

Analicé el documento concienzudamente.I analysed the document thoroughly.

Cacé dos osos.I hunted two bears.

Here are some other examples with -z (not-c). Notice how the pronunciation is the same:

¿Quién organizó la fiesta de Susana?Who organized Susana's party?

Los niños pequeños no cruzaron la carretera solos.The little children didn't cross the road by themselves.

¿Cazasteis muchas mariposas en el parque?Did you catch lots of butterfies in the park?

For more verbs that follow this pattern see the List of Spanish -zar verbs that change z>c in the preterite for the yo form

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Examples and resources

Crucé la calle con mucho cuidado.I crossed the street very carefully.
Organicé una fiesta sorpresa para Laura.I organised a surprise party for Laura.
Analicé el documento concienzudamente.I analysed the document thoroughly.
Cacé dos osos.I hunted two bears.
¿Quién organizó la fiesta de Susana?Who organized Susana's party?
Los niños pequeños no cruzaron la carretera solos.The little children didn't cross the road by themselves.
¿Cazasteis muchas mariposas en el parque?Did you catch lots of butterfies in the park?
Let me take a look at that...