crecí
“crecí” means “I grew” in Spanish (physical or metaphorical growth).
I grew, I grew up
Also: I became bigger, I increased
📝 In Action
Yo crecí en una ciudad pequeña, pero me gusta la capital.
A1I grew up in a small city, but I like the capital.
Crecí mucho el año pasado, ahora soy más alto que mi hermano.
A2I grew a lot last year; now I am taller than my brother.
Cuando crecí, entendí la importancia de ahorrar dinero.
B1When I grew older, I understood the importance of saving money.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: crecí
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'crecí' to talk about a finished action in the past?
📚 More Resources
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The Spanish verb 'crecer' comes directly from the Latin verb *crescere*, which means 'to spring up' or 'to increase.' The concept of getting bigger or older has remained consistent for thousands of years.
First recorded: Before 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'crecí' and 'crecía'?
'Crecí' (simple past) describes a singular, completed action, usually 'I grew up' or 'I got taller at that moment.' 'Crecía' (imperfect past) describes an ongoing process or a state in the past, like 'I was growing' or 'I used to grow.'
Is 'crecí' pronounced with a hard 'c' sound?
No. In Spanish, 'c' followed by an 'e' or 'i' makes an 's' sound (or a 'th' sound in parts of Spain). So, 'crecí' sounds like 'kreh-SEE'.