Decidir means 'to decide', and it is a regular -ir verb that is essential for talking about choices, plans and the future. The key structure is decidir + infinitive — decidí estudiar español (I decided to study Spanish) — and the reflexive decidirse a adds the nuance of finally making your mind up. Because explaining decisions and their reasons is exactly the kind of developed answer that scores well, decidir is a high-value verb for the writing and speaking papers. As a regular -ir verb it follows a predictable pattern, so the focus is on using it to justify your choices.
Quick facts
Decidir (to decide) is a regular -ir verb.
Real sentences across different tenses — the kind of thing you'd actually say or write.
Decidir + infinitive: decidí ir (I decided to go).
Reflexive decidirse a: me decidí a estudiar.
Pair with porque to explain decisions and score marks.
Follows the standard -ir pattern across tenses.
Fixed expressions worth knowing — they come up in listening, reading and writing tasks.
Idiomatic expressions
Decidir is a regular verb. Make sure you know the endings for each tense — especially the preterite and subjunctive, which is where marks are most often lost.
decidir is a regular -ir verb — it follows the standard -ir pattern in every tense. That makes it a good one to drill: if you know decidir, you know the template for all regular -ir verbs.
Type conjugations from memory and get instant feedback. That's how you actually build the automatic recall the exam needs — not from reading tables.
Practice decidir now →Three questions. Press Enter to check each answer.
yo: decido, tú: decides, él: decide, nosotros: decidimos, vosotros: decidís, ellos: deciden
Decidir is a regular -ir verb following the standard -ir pattern.
Use decidir in multiple tenses to show range — present, preterite and future at minimum. This is a key criterion for higher GCSE marks.
Verbs that are easy to confuse with decidir or that behave like it.
This reference is written for UK GCSE and A-Level Spanish learners and their teachers. It is designed for exam revision: every form is checked against standard conjugation rules, and the examples reflect the registers and topics that come up in the AQA, Edexcel and Eduqas specifications. Decidir is a high-frequency verb and appears often in exam papers. For active recall, use the free practice tool rather than only reading the tables.
Last updated 2 August 2026. Written by Daniel Holmes for GCSE & A-Level Spanish students.