elegí
“elegí” means “I chose” in Spanish (Simple past action).
📝 In Action
Ayer elegí la opción más difícil.
A2Yesterday I chose the most difficult option.
Elegí este vestido para la boda de mi hermana.
B1I selected this dress for my sister's wedding.
De todas las universidades, elegí la que estaba más cerca de casa.
B1Out of all the universities, I chose the one that was closest to home.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
imperfect
present
preterite
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: elegí
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'elegí' to talk about a finished past action?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *eligere*, which means 'to pick out' or 'to select.' It shares roots with the English word 'eligible.'
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'elegí' pronounced differently than the infinitive 'elegir'?
Yes. In 'elegir,' the stress is on the last syllable ('e-le-GIR'). In 'elegí,' the stress is also on the last syllable, but the accent mark (tilda) means it is stressed and rhymes with 'ee' in English: 'e-le-HÉE'. This accent is essential to distinguish it as the past tense 'I chose'.
How do I know when to use 'elegí' versus 'he elegido'?
'Elegí' (preterite) is used when the choice happened at a definite time that is over (e.g., 'I chose yesterday'). 'He elegido' (present perfect) is used if the choice happened recently or the consequences of the choice are still affecting the present moment (e.g., 'I have chosen a career path').