he
/e/
The word 'he' is the 'I' form of the verb 'haber' and is used to say 'I have...' when talking about a completed action, like in 'He comido' (I have eaten).
he (Verb)
📝 In Action
He terminado mi tarea.
A2I have finished my homework.
Nunca he visitado España.
A2I have never visited Spain.
¿He dicho algo malo?
B1Have I said something wrong?
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
💡 Grammar Points
Your Helper Verb for Past Actions
'He' is a helper verb. It almost always comes before another verb that has an '-ado' or '-ido' ending, like 'hablado' (spoken) or 'comido' (eaten).
Don't Separate Them!
In Spanish, you can't put other words between 'he' and the main verb. For example, to say 'I have never seen', it's 'Nunca he visto', not 'He nunca visto'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up 'he' and 'tengo'
Mistake: "Using 'tengo' to talk about actions. For example, 'Tengo comido'."
Correction: Use 'he' for actions ('He comido' - I have eaten) and 'tengo' for things you possess ('Tengo comida' - I have food).
⭐ Usage Tips
Sharing News and Experiences
This is the perfect way to share what you've done recently. Start a sentence with 'He...' to talk about a movie you've seen, a place you've visited, or something you've learned.
In the special phrase 'he aquí', the word 'he' acts like a presenter, meaning 'Here is...' or 'Behold...'.
he (Verb)
📝 In Action
He aquí la solución a nuestro problema.
B2Here is the solution to our problem.
He ahí el detalle que no consideramos.
C1There is the detail that we didn't consider.
💡 Grammar Points
A Special, Fixed Phrase
This 'he' doesn't change for who you're talking to. It's a fixed phrase to present something. You'll always see it followed by 'aquí' (here) or 'ahí' (there).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Not the Same 'he'
Mistake: "Thinking 'he aquí' means 'I have here'."
Correction: While it looks similar, treat 'he aquí' as a single chunk that means 'Here is...'. It's about presenting something, not possessing it.
⭐ Usage Tips
For a Touch of Drama
Use 'he aquí' when you want to reveal something important or with a bit of flair, like a magician revealing a trick. It's great for storytelling or formal writing.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: he
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'he' to talk about a past action?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the 'h' in 'he' silent?
In Spanish, the letter 'h' is almost always silent. It's a holdover from Latin words that used to have an 'f' sound, which softened over time and eventually disappeared in pronunciation, even though the letter remained in writing.
Can I say 'yo he comido'?
Yes, you absolutely can! Adding 'yo' is not necessary because 'he' can only mean 'I have', but it's very common to add 'yo' for emphasis or clarity. Both 'He comido' and 'Yo he comido' are perfectly correct.
What's the difference between 'He estado' and 'Fui'?
Great question! 'He estado' (I have been) talks about an experience in a time period that isn't finished yet (like 'this week' or 'in my life'). 'Fui' (I was/I went) talks about a completed action in a finished time period (like 'yesterday' or 'last year').