engañó
“engañó” means “He/She/It tricked” in Spanish (Simple past action).
He/She/It tricked, You (formal) deceived
Also: He/She/It fooled, He/She/It cheated
📝 In Action
Ella dijo que me amaba, pero me engañó.
A2She said she loved me, but she tricked me/cheated on me.
El vendedor nos engañó con el precio del coche.
B1The salesperson fooled us with the car's price.
Usted engañó a la audiencia al no decir la verdad.
B2You (formal) deceived the audience by not telling the truth.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: engañó
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'engañó' to describe a single, completed action in the past?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb *engañar* comes from the prefix *en-* (meaning 'in' or 'on') combined with the old Spanish word *gaño* or *caño*, which referred to the jaw or throat, suggesting the original meaning related to catching or luring something (like an animal into a trap). Over time, it evolved to mean deceiving or trapping someone with words.
First recorded: Medieval Spanish
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the accent mark on 'engañó' so important?
The accent mark tells you that the stress falls on the last syllable, which is the signal for the simple past tense (preterite) for 'he/she/it.' Without the accent, it becomes 'engañó' (I deceive) in the present tense, which completely changes the meaning and the subject.
Can 'engañó' mean 'cheated' in a relationship context?
Yes, absolutely. In Spanish, using 'engañó' (he/she deceived/tricked) is one of the most common ways to say that someone was unfaithful or cheated on their partner.