estuve
“estuve” means “I was” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
I was
📝 In Action
Ayer estuve en el supermercado.
A1Yesterday I was at the supermarket.
Estuve en casa de mi abuela todo el fin de semana.
A2I was at my grandmother's house all weekend.
Nunca estuve en Argentina, pero me encantaría ir.
B1I have never been to Argentina, but I would love to go.
I was
Also: I felt
📝 In Action
Estuve enfermo la semana pasada.
A2I was sick last week.
Estuve muy ocupado ayer con el proyecto.
A2I was very busy yesterday with the project.
Después de la película, estuve triste por dos horas.
B1After the movie, I was sad for two hours.
Estuve a punto de llamarte, pero se me olvidó.
B1I was about to call you, but I forgot.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: estuve
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'estuve'?
📚 More Resources
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
`Estuve` comes from the infinitive verb `estar`, which traces back to the Latin word `stāre`. `Stāre` meant 'to stand' or 'to be standing'. Over time, its meaning broadened in Spanish to include being in a location or a temporary state.
First recorded: Forms of 'estar' appear in the earliest Spanish texts, around the 10th century.
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
What's the difference between 'estuve', 'fui', and 'estaba'?
It's a great question! Think of it like this: - `estuve`: Use for where you were or how you felt for a specific, *completed* time. (e.g., `Ayer estuve en la playa.` - Yesterday I was at the beach.) - `fui`: This is the past tense of two different verbs, `ser` (to be) and `ir` (to go). You use it for *what* you were (e.g., `Fui estudiante.` - I was a student) or *where you went* (e.g., `Fui a la playa.` - I went to the beach). - `estaba`: Use for descriptions in the past or for actions that were *in progress*. (e.g., `Hacía sol y yo estaba en la playa.` - It was sunny and I was at the beach.)
Is 'estuve' a common word?
Yes, it's extremely common! It's the 'I was' form of the verb 'estar', which is one of the two main 'to be' verbs in Spanish. You'll use it constantly to talk about what you did yesterday, last week, or last year.