cortó
/kor-TOH/
cut (he/she/it did)
She cut (cortó) the ribbon for the opening ceremony.
cortó(Verb (Past Tense))
cut (he/she/it did)
?physically severing
,sliced (he/she/it did)
?food preparation
chopped (he/she/it did)
?wood or vegetables
📝 In Action
Mi hermano cortó el césped ayer.
A1My brother cut the grass yesterday.
El chef cortó la cebolla muy rápido.
A2The chef sliced the onion very quickly.
Ella cortó la tela con unas tijeras grandes.
B1She cut the fabric with large scissors.
💡 Grammar Points
Preterite Tense
This form ('cortó') tells you that the action of cutting started and finished completely in the past, like a single event. It's used for actions that have a clear beginning and end.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Past Tenses
Mistake: "Using 'cortaba' (imperfect) when you mean 'cortó' (preterite)."
Correction: Use 'cortó' only for a specific, completed action (e.g., 'Ayer cortó el cable'). Use 'cortaba' for ongoing or habitual actions in the past (e.g., 'Cortaba la carne todas las noches').
⭐ Usage Tips
Who Did the Action?
'Cortó' refers to 'él' (he), 'ella' (she), or 'usted' (formal you). If you are talking about yourself, you must say 'yo corté'.
The storm cut off (cortó) the communication lines.
cortó(Verb (Past Tense))
cut off (he/she/it did)
?power, water, communication
,interrupted (he/she/it did)
?conversation or flow
broke up (he/she did)
?a relationship
📝 In Action
La compañía eléctrica cortó el servicio por falta de pago.
B1The electric company cut off the service due to lack of payment.
El presentador cortó la entrevista abruptamente.
B2The host interrupted the interview abruptly.
Después de tres años, él cortó con su novia.
B1After three years, he broke up with his girlfriend.
💡 Grammar Points
Action vs. Result
When used to mean 'the power went out,' Spanish often uses the reflexive form ('Se cortó la luz'). This means the action happened to the power/light itself, not that a specific person did it.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Cortar' for 'Hang Up'
Mistake: "Saying 'Él terminó la llamada' when you mean 'He hung up suddenly'."
Correction: The most natural way to say 'He hung up' is often 'Él cortó la llamada' or 'Él colgó'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cortó
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'cortó' to mean 'interrupted'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'cortó' used instead of 'cortaste'?
'Cortó' is the past action performed by a single person who is NOT you (he, she, or formal you—usted). 'Cortaste' is the past action performed by 'tú' (informal you). They refer to different people.
Can 'cortó' be used if milk curdles?
Yes. When discussing liquids like milk or mayonnaise separating or curdling, Spanish often uses the verb 'cortar' in the third person. For example: 'La leche se cortó' (The milk curdled).