enseñaron
en-se-nyah-ron
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Mis abuelos me enseñaron a cocinar.
A1My grandparents taught me how to cook.
Ellos me enseñaron el camino al hotel.
A1They showed me the way to the hotel.
¿Ustedes me enseñaron las fotos ayer?
A2Did you all show me the photos yesterday?
💡 Grammar Points
The 'They' Past Form
This word is the 'preterite' form, which is used for actions that happened and finished at a specific time in the past.
One word, two meanings
Spanish uses the same word 'enseñar' for both teaching a class and showing a physical object like a passport.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Show vs. Teach
Mistake: "Using 'enseñaron' only for schools."
Correction: Remember it also means 'to show' (e.g., 'They showed me the house' = 'Me enseñaron la casa').
Confusing Tenses
Mistake: "Using 'enseñaron' for 'they used to teach'."
Correction: Use 'enseñaron' for a one-time event; use 'enseñaban' for things that happened regularly in the past.
⭐ Usage Tips
Who are you talking to?
In Latin America, 'enseñaron' is used for 'you all' (formal and informal). In Spain, it's used only for 'them' or 'you all' (formal).
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: enseñaron
Question 1 of 2
How would you say 'They taught me the secret' in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'enseñaron' only refer to people?
Usually yes, it refers to 'them' or 'you all', but it could also refer to objects like books if you are speaking metaphorically (e.g., 'These books taught me a lot').
What is the difference between 'enseñaron' and 'mostraron'?
'Mostraron' only means 'they showed'. 'Enseñaron' is more common in daily speech and can mean both 'they showed' and 'they taught'.