fueron
“fueron” means “they went” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
they went
Also: you all went
📝 In Action
Mis amigos fueron al cine anoche.
A1My friends went to the movies last night.
¿A dónde fueron ustedes de vacaciones?
A2Where did you all go on vacation?
Las cosas no fueron como planeamos.
B1Things didn't go as we planned.
they were
Also: you all were
📝 In Action
Ellos fueron buenos estudiantes.
A1They were good students.
Las vacaciones fueron fantásticas.
A2The vacation was fantastic.
Los libros fueron escritos por un autor famoso.
B1The books were written by a famous author.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: fueron
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'fueron' to mean 'they went'?
📚 More Resources
📚 Etymology▼
The form 'fueron' has a fascinating double origin. For the meaning 'they were', it comes from the Latin verb 'fuisse', a past form of 'esse' (to be). For the meaning 'they went', it comes from the same Latin verb, which over time also replaced the past tense forms of the Latin verb 'īre' (to go) in Spanish.
First recorded: 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
How can one word mean two totally different things like 'they were' and 'they went'?
It's a historical quirk of Spanish! The verbs 'ser' (to be) and 'ir' (to go) are both very irregular. A long time ago, their past tense forms merged together because they sounded similar. Now, they are identical in this specific past tense (the preterite). You always have to use the context of the sentence to know which meaning is intended.
What's the difference between 'fueron' and 'eran'?
Both can mean 'they were', but they are used for different situations. Use 'fueron' for actions or states that have a clear beginning and end, or are seen as a completed event (e.g., 'Fueron amigos por 10 años'). Use 'eran' for descriptions, background information, or habitual actions in the past without a specific endpoint (e.g., 'Cuando eran niños, jugaban mucho').