abrió
/ah-bree-OH/
opened
Abrió (opened) refers to physically opening an object, like a door.
abrió(verb)
opened
?He, she, or it opened (a physical object)
turned on
?For devices, sometimes used regionally
📝 In Action
Ella abrió la puerta con una llave vieja.
A1She opened the door with an old key.
El banco abrió a las nueve en punto.
A2The bank opened exactly at nine o'clock.
Usted abrió el paquete inmediatamente.
A2You (formal) opened the package immediately.
💡 Grammar Points
Past Action Completed
'Abrió' is the simple past (preterite) form. It tells you that the action of opening started and finished at a specific point in the past.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Preterite vs. Imperfect
Mistake: "Using 'abría' when describing a single completed event: 'Él abría la tienda ayer.'"
Correction: Use 'abrió' for a single event: 'Él abrió la tienda ayer.' Use 'abría' only for ongoing or habitual past actions.
Abrió (started) can mean beginning a new business or event.
abrió(verb)
started
?Began a new business or event
,inaugurated
?Formally began something
initiated
?Began a process or discussion
📝 In Action
La empresa abrió una nueva sucursal en Madrid.
B1The company opened a new branch in Madrid.
El alcalde abrió la sesión con un discurso.
B1The mayor opened the session with a speech.
💡 Grammar Points
Subject flexibility
In this context, the subject ('él/ella/usted') is often an institution, company, or organization, not just a person.
Abrió (confided) can mean opening up emotionally to someone.
abrió(verb)
confided
?Opened up emotionally
,expressed
?Showed feelings
became receptive
?Opened one's mind
📝 In Action
Después de la terapia, por fin se abrió a sus amigos.
B2After therapy, he finally opened up to his friends. (Note: uses 'se abrió')
La experiencia le abrió los ojos sobre la pobreza.
C1The experience opened his eyes about poverty.
💡 Grammar Points
Reflexive Use
When talking about opening up emotionally, the verb is usually reflexive, meaning it uses 'se': 'se abrió' (he/she opened themselves up).
⭐ Usage Tips
Figurative Language
This meaning is often used with body parts like 'ojos' (eyes) or 'corazón' (heart) to mean gaining understanding or showing emotion.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: abrió
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'abrió' to mean 'started a business'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the subject of 'abrió'?
'Abrió' is the verb form used when the subject is a single person (él, ella, usted) or a single thing (the door, the store, the book) in the past tense.
Is 'abrió' a regular or irregular verb form?
The infinitive 'abrir' is a regular '-ir' verb. Although the past participle ('abierto') is irregular, the preterite form 'abrió' follows the standard pattern for regular '-ir' verbs.