Almorzar: Full Conjugation

Almorzar means "to have lunch" or "to eat lunch." It combines two features that make it a great verb to memorize:

1. It's an o → ue stem-changing verb, so the stem almorz- becomes almuerz- when the stem is stressed.
2. It ends in -zar, so the z changes to c before e (a purely orthographic rule in Spanish: z rarely appears before e or i).

Both changes apply across multiple tenses, making this an excellent model verb.

Present Indicative

Notice that nosotros keeps the original almorz- stem because the stress falls on the ending, not the stem.

Preterite

The yo form shows the z → c spelling change: almorcé, not almorzé.

Imperfect

Future

Conditional

Present Subjunctive

The present subjunctive shows both changes: the o → ue stem change where stress lands on the stem, and z → c throughout (to keep the "s" sound before e).

Imperfect Subjunctive (-ra forms)

Imperative

Non-Finite Forms

• Infinitive: almorzar
• Gerund: almorzando
• Past participle: almorzado

Common Uses

In Latin America, el almuerzo is the main midday meal, typically eaten between noon and 2 p.m. In many countries it's larger and more important than dinner.