Existir means 'to exist', and it is a regular -ir verb that adds weight to writing about society, ideas and problems. Existen muchas soluciones (many solutions exist), el problema existe (the problem exists). Because pointing out that something exists — or does not — is part of building an argument, existir is useful in higher-level essays, often in the third person. It overlaps in some contexts with haber (hay, 'there is/are'). As a regular -ir verb the conjugation is predictable, and the related noun la existencia is worth knowing too.
Quick facts
Existir (to exist) is a regular -ir verb.
Real sentences across different tenses — the kind of thing you'd actually say or write.
El problema existe (the problem exists).
Existen muchas soluciones (many solutions exist).
Useful for arguing a point.
Close to hay (there is/are).
Fixed expressions worth knowing — they come up in listening, reading and writing tasks.
Idiomatic expressions
existir 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 existir, 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 existir now →Three questions, no account needed. Type the form, then press Enter or tap Check.
yo: existo, tú: existes, él: existe, nosotros: existimos, vosotros: existís, ellos: existen
The past participle is existido (he existido) and the gerund is existiendo (estoy existiendo).
Verbs that are easy to confuse with existir or that behave like it.
Existir is on the AQA, Edexcel and Eduqas GCSE Spanish vocabulary lists. Compare the exam boards.
Written by Daniel Holmes for GCSE & A-Level Spanish students.