Forgetting the Accent Mark

'Pensé' is used for thoughts that happened at a specific point in the past and are now finished. It's like saying 'I had a thought, and it's over.' For example, 'Ayer pensé en la playa' (Yesterday I thought about the beach).

Talking About a Completed Thought: The Preterite Tense

Use 'pensé' for a single, completed thought. Use 'pensaba' (I was thinking / I used to think) for ongoing thoughts in the past, like 'De niño, pensaba que los monstruos eran reales' (As a child, I used to think monsters were real).

'Pensé' vs. 'Pensaba'

You can use 'pensé que...' to talk about something you used to believe but now know is different. For example, 'Pensé que eras de México, pero eres de Colombia' (I thought you were from Mexico, but you're from Colombia).

Expressing an Opinion You No Longer Hold

When you follow 'pensé' with another action verb (like 'ir', 'llamar', 'comprar'), it means 'I planned to' or 'I intended to'. For example, 'Pensé ir al cine, pero no tuve tiempo' (I planned to go to the movies, but I didn't have time).

Talking About Intentions

Extremely common. You'll use this every day to talk about what you thought, believed, or planned in the past.

Learn the full meaning of 'pensé' (I thought) in Spanish. See complete conjugation tables for 'pensar', usage examples, grammar tips, and the difference between 'pensé' and 'pensaba'.

pensé

Complete Conjugation Tables

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

preterite

imperfect

future

conditional

subjunctive

present

imperfect

imperative

affirmative

negative

Practice Conjugations