explotó
/eks-plo-TOH/
exploded
Explotó: The device exploded with a massive flash.
explotó(Verb)
exploded
?physical detonation
,blew up
?sudden failure or destruction
went off
?alarm or device
📝 In Action
El viejo motor explotó por el sobrecalentamiento.
A2The old engine exploded due to overheating.
Cuando cayó el rayo, la torre de electricidad explotó con un gran ruido.
B1When the lightning struck, the electricity tower blew up with a loud noise.
💡 Grammar Points
The Preterite Tense
‘Explotó’ is the simple past tense (preterite) used to describe a single action that happened and finished at a specific point in the past, like a sudden explosion.
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on the Result
Use 'explotó' when you want to focus on the moment the explosion happened and the result, not the ongoing process.
Explotó: She burst out in frustration after the long wait.
explotó(Verb)
burst out
?sudden emotional reaction
,snapped
?lost control
blew up
?got very angry
📝 In Action
Ella explotó de rabia cuando escuchó la noticia.
B1She burst out in anger when she heard the news.
El jefe explotó en la reunión porque nadie terminó el trabajo.
B2The boss snapped (lost it) in the meeting because no one finished the work.
💡 Grammar Points
Emotional Preterite
When 'explotó' is used for emotions, it means the feeling or reaction was sudden, intense, and short-lived, marking a clear beginning and end to the outburst.
Explotó: The mining operation exploited the natural resources of the land.
explotó(Verb)
exploited
?taking unfair advantage of people or resources
,took advantage of
?using a situation for selfish gain
profited from
?financial or resource gain
📝 In Action
El dueño de la fábrica explotó a sus trabajadores por años.
B2The factory owner exploited his workers for years.
El equipo explotó la debilidad del oponente para ganar el partido.
C1The team exploited the opponent's weakness to win the match.
💡 Grammar Points
Exploitation vs. Explosion
In Spanish, the verb 'explotar' covers both senses: physical detonation AND unfair use of people or resources. Context is key to knowing which meaning is intended.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Action Time
Mistake: "La empresa explotaba los recursos ayer. (The company was exploiting the resources yesterday.)"
Correction: La empresa explotó los recursos ayer. (The company exploited the resources yesterday.) The preterite 'explotó' is often preferred for a completed, definite act of exploitation.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
imperfect
present
preterite
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: explotó
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'explotó' in the sense of taking unfair economic advantage?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What tense is 'explotó'?
'Explotó' is the preterite tense, which is the simple past tense. It means 'he, she, or it exploded/exploited' and describes an action that was completed quickly and entirely in the past.
¿Cómo se dice 'He blew up at me' (got angry) en español?
You would typically say 'Él explotó conmigo' or 'Él se enfadó mucho conmigo.' The verb 'explotar' is perfect for describing that sudden loss of temper.