The verb caber is irregular and primarily appears in the first-person singular form quepo in the present tense. It is not commonly used in the past participle form and typically appears in the infinitive, simple tenses, and conditional/future forms. The core meaning is about fitting—whether something can physically fit inside a container, space, or arrangement.

Conjugation Charts

The main irregularity is in the first-person singular forms of several tenses. Other forms follow regular patterns for -er verbs.

Present Indicative

Person	Spanish Conjugation	English Conjugation
yo	quepo	I fit
tú	cabes	you fit
él/ella/usted	cabe	he/she fits
nosotros	cabemos	we fit
vosotros	cabéis	you all fit
ellos/ellas/ustedes	caben	they fit

Preterite Indicative

Person	Spanish Conjugation	English Conjugation
yo	cupe	I fit / I managed to fit
tú	cupiste	you fit
él/ella/usted	cupo	he/she fit
nosotros	cupimos	we fit
vosotros	cupisteis	you all fit
ellos/ellas/ustedes	cupieron	they fit

Imperfect Indicative

Person	Spanish Conjugation	English Conjugation
yo	cabía	I used to fit
tú	cabías	you used to fit
él/ella/usted	cabía	he/she used to fit
nosotros	cabíamos	we used to fit
vosotros	cabíais	you all used to fit
ellos/ellas/ustedes	cabían	they used to fit

Future Indicative

Person	Spanish Conjugation	English Conjugation
yo	cabré	I will fit
tú	cabrás	you will fit
él/ella/usted	cabrá	he/she will fit
nosotros	cabremos	we will fit
vosotros	cabréis	you all will fit
ellos/ellas/ustedes	cabrán	they will fit

Conditional Indicative

Person	Spanish Conjugation	English Conjugation
yo	cabría	I would fit
tú	cabrías	you would fit
él/ella/usted	cabría	he/she would fit
nosotros	cabríamos	we would fit
vosotros	cabríais	you all would fit
ellos/ellas/ustedes	cabrían	they would fit

Present Subjunctive

Person	Spanish Conjugation	English Conjugation
yo	quepa	I fit / I may fit
tú	quepas	you fit / you may fit
él/ella/usted	quepa	he/she fits / may fit
nosotros	quepamos	we fit / we may fit
vosotros	quepáis	you all fit / may fit
ellos/ellas/ustedes	quepan	they fit / they may fit

Imperfect Subjunctive (–ra form)

Person	Spanish Conjugation	English Conjugation
yo	cupiera	I fit / I might fit
tú	cupieras	you fit / you might fit
él/ella/usted	cupiera	he/she fits / might fit
nosotros	cupiéramos	we fit / we might fit
vosotros	cupierais	you all fit / might fit
ellos/ellas/ustedes	cupieran	they fit / might fit

Imperative

Person	Spanish Conjugation	English Conjugation
tú	cabe	fit!
usted	quepa	fit (formal)!
nosotros	quepamos	let’s fit!
vosotros	cabed	fit (you all)!
ustedes	quepan	fit (you all formal)!

Usage Rules

Meaning and Usage

Caber means “to fit,” indicating whether something can be contained or accommodated within a space.
It can be used for physical objects, clothes, containers, or even abstract concepts like ideas or time.

Common Prepositions

en + [noun] — most common: ¿Cabe en la caja? (Does it fit in the box?)
dentro de — more formal or specific: Cabe dentro del armario. (It fits inside the closet.)

Two Common Forms

Interrogative/negative with caber + preposition + noun: ¿Cabe en la maleta? No, no cabe.
Impersonal with caber + de + noun: Cabía de sobra en la mochila. (There was plenty of room in the backpack.)

Synonyms and Alternatives

Entrar — to enter: ¿Entra en la caja? (Similar meaning, but more about “entering”)
Ajustar — to adjust: Se ajusta perfectamente. (Fits perfectly, more about size/shape)

Examples and Patterns

Spanish Example	English Example	Explanation
¿Cabe este libro en la mochila?	Does this book fit in the backpack?	Standard question about fitting an object into a container.
No, no cabe.	No, it doesn’t fit.	Simple negative response.
Caben seis personas en el coche.	Six people fit in the car.	Expresses capacity.
¿Cuánto cabe en este jarro?	How much fits in this jug?	Asks about volume or capacity.
Ya no cabe nadie más.	No one else fits anymore.	Used with nadie for “no one else.”
¿Crees que quepa todo en la maleta?	Do you think everything will fit in the suitcase?	Subjunctive quepa used for uncertainty or possibility.
Cabía de sobra dentro de la caja.	It easily fit inside the box.	Impersonal + de sobra (more than enough).
Si cabrías, trae más libros.	If you fit, bring more books.	Conditional cabrías in a polite request.

Additional Notes

Caber* is seldom used in continuous (progressive) tenses.
It often occurs in idiomatic expressions like no cabe duda (there’s no doubt).
Mastering caber helps with talking about packing, organizing, and estimating space.

Flashcards (1 of 55)

Person: yo

English Conjugation: I fit

Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025

Spanish

Caber: to fit