funcionó
/foon-syoh-NOH/
worked
Funcionó means that a machine, system, or plan 'worked'.
funcionó(Verb)
worked
?machine, system, or plan
,functioned
?device or system
,succeeded
?idea or strategy
it was successful
?result of an action
📝 In Action
La televisión no funcionó después de la tormenta.
A1The television didn't work after the storm.
Mi plan funcionó; conseguimos el dinero.
A2My plan worked; we got the money.
¿Funcionó la alarma que compraste?
A2Did the alarm you bought work?
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Preterite' Tense
This form, 'funcionó,' tells you that the action started and finished completely in the past, like a single event. (He/She/It/You formal worked.)
❌ Common Pitfalls
Funcionar vs. Trabajar
Mistake: "Using 'trabajó' when talking about a machine or plan."
Correction: 'Trabajar' is for people or jobs. 'Funcionar' is for things, systems, or ideas. Say: 'El reloj funcionó' (The watch worked), not 'trabajó'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Quick Success Check
To ask if an idea or strategy succeeded, the easiest way is often just: '¿Funcionó?'
Funcionó can also mean that something 'served as' or functioned in a specific role.
funcionó(Verb)
served as
?acting in a specific role
,acted as
?taking on a temporary duty
operated
?a business or institution
📝 In Action
El presidente funcionó como mediador en el conflicto.
B1The president served as a mediator in the conflict.
La oficina funcionó con éxito durante la ausencia del jefe.
B2The office operated successfully during the boss's absence.
💡 Grammar Points
Formal Roles
When referring to a person or institution carrying out a specific function or duty (often followed by 'como' + a role), 'funcionar' is a precise choice.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: funcionó
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'funcionó' in the primary sense?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'funcionó' the past tense for 'él, ella, usted' and not 'yo' or 'tú'?
'Funcionó' is the simple past (preterite) form for the third-person singular (he, she, it) and the formal second-person singular (usted). If you wanted to say 'I worked' (past tense), you would use 'funcioné'.
How does 'funcionó' differ from 'funcionaba'?
'Funcionó' describes a single, completed action in the past (e.g., 'It worked once'). 'Funcionaba' describes an ongoing, repeated, or habitual action in the past (e.g., 'It used to work often').