cambió
“cambió” means “changed” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
📝 In Action
Él cambió la rueda pinchada en diez minutos.
A1He changed the flat tire in ten minutes.
La empresa cambió su política de devoluciones el mes pasado.
A2The company changed its return policy last month.
Usted cambió de opinión muy rápido.
A2You (formal) changed your mind very quickly.
Word Connections
📝 In Action
La atmósfera de la sala cambió cuando ella entró.
A2The atmosphere of the room changed when she entered.
Su voz cambió después de la pubertad.
B1His voice changed after puberty.
Todo cambió para él después de ese viaje.
A2Everything changed for him after that trip.
Word Connections
📝 In Action
El turista cambió cien dólares en el aeropuerto.
B1The tourist exchanged one hundred dollars at the airport.
Ella cambió su camisa por una talla más grande.
B1She exchanged her shirt for a bigger size.
¿Quién cambió mi café por té? ¡Fue un error!
B2Who swapped my coffee for tea? It was a mistake!
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: cambió
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'cambió' to mean 'exchanged money'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology
The verb 'cambiar' comes from the Late Latin word *cambiare*, meaning 'to exchange' or 'to barter.' This root word originally referred specifically to the exchange of goods or money.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'cambió' have an accent mark?
The accent mark on the 'ó' is essential! It tells you that the word is in the simple past tense (preterite) and that the stress falls on the last syllable, confirming it refers to a finished action: 'He/She/It changed.'
What is the difference between 'cambió' and 'cambiaba'?
'Cambió' (preterite) describes a single, completed action in the past (e.g., 'He changed the oil yesterday'). 'Cambiaba' (imperfect) describes habitual actions or ongoing states in the past (e.g., 'He used to change the oil every month').