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Spanish · Verb · #56 most common

servir

to serve
to be used for

Irregular-ir ending

In the tables below, the stem is shown in black and the ending in purple.

1.

Presente

Habitual actions, general truths, and what's happening now.

yosirvo
sirves
él/ellasirve
nosotrosservimos
vosotrosservís
ellos/ellassirven

Yo sirvo la cena a las siete.

I serve dinner at seven.

Ella sirve café a sus invitados.

She serves coffee to her guests.

2.

Pretérito Indefinido

Completed actions at a specific point in the past.

yoserví
serviste
él/ellasirvió
nosotrosservimos
vosotrosservisteis
ellos/ellassirvieron

Ayer serví el almuerzo en la reunión.

Yesterday, I served lunch at the meeting.

Él sirvió la comida en el restaurante.

He served the food at the restaurant.

3.

Imperfecto

Ongoing or repeated actions in the past, descriptions, and background context.

yoservía
servías
él/ellaservía
nosotrosservíamos
vosotrosservíais
ellos/ellasservían

Cuando era niño, siempre servía la mesa.

When I was a child, I always set the table.

Nosotros servíamos el desayuno a las ocho.

We used to serve breakfast at eight.

4.

Futuro Simple

Future actions, predictions, and speculation about the present.

yoserviré
servirás
él/ellaservirá
nosotrosserviremos
vosotrosserviréis
ellos/ellasservirán

Mañana serviré el postre después de la cena.

Tomorrow, I will serve dessert after dinner.

Ellos servirán la comida a las seis.

They will serve the food at six.

5.

Condicional

Hypothetical situations, polite requests, and future-in-the-past.

yoserviría
servirías
él/ellaserviría
nosotrosserviríamos
vosotrosserviríais
ellos/ellasservirían

Yo serviría más si tuviera más tiempo.

I would serve more if I had more time.

Ella serviría la cena si llegara a casa a tiempo.

She would serve dinner if she got home on time.

6.

Subjuntivo Presente

Wishes, doubts, emotions, and subordinate clauses expressing uncertainty.

yosirva
sirvas
él/ellasirva
nosotrossirvamos
vosotrossirváis
ellos/ellassirvan

Espero que tú sirvas la comida antes de la fiesta.

I hope you serve the food before the party.

Es importante que ellos sirvan con amabilidad.

It is important that they serve kindly.

7.

Subjuntivo Imperfecto

Past subjunctive contexts, hypothetical si-clauses, and polite suggestions.

yosirviera
sirvieras
él/ellasirviera
nosotrossirviéramos
vosotrossirvierais
ellos/ellassirvieran

Si yo sirviera la cena, todos estarían felices.

If I served dinner, everyone would be happy.

Si ella sirviera el desayuno, sería genial.

If she served breakfast, it would be great.

"servir" in other languages

Related verbs

Common questions
Is "servir" regular or irregular in Spanish?
"servir" is an irregular Spanish verb. It does not follow the standard -ir conjugation pattern and must be memorized.
How do you conjugate "servir" in the present tense?
In the Presente, "servir" conjugates as: sirves, sirvo, sirven, and more. See the full table above.
What is the past tense of "servir" in Spanish?
In the Pretérito Indefinido, "servir" conjugates as: serviste, serví, sirvieron, and more. See the full table above.
How common is "servir" in Spanish?
"servir" (to serve, to be used for) is one of the most commonly used verbs in Spanish.