hicieron
/ee-SYEH-ron/
they did
The primary meaning of hicieron is 'they did,' referring to performing a completed action.
hicieron(Verb)
they did
?performing an action
they performed
?completing a task
,you all did
?formal 'you', addressing a group
📝 In Action
Ellos hicieron la tarea juntos.
A2They did the homework together.
¿Qué hicieron ustedes el fin de semana?
A2What did you all do over the weekend?
Los atletas hicieron un gran esfuerzo.
B1The athletes made a great effort.
💡 Grammar Points
A Key Past Tense Form
'Hicieron' comes from the verb 'hacer' and talks about a completed action in the past. Think of it as the Spanish way to say 'they did' or 'you all did' for something that has a clear end.
Who are 'they'?
This form works for three groups: 'ellos' (a group of men, or mixed gender), 'ellas' (a group of women), and 'ustedes' (a group of people you'd speak to formally, like 'you all').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing with 'hacían'
Mistake: "Usé el teléfono cuando ellos hacían la cena."
Correction: Usé el teléfono cuando ellos hicieron la cena. Use 'hicieron' for a single, completed action (they finished making dinner). Use 'hacían' if you mean they were in the middle of making it ('I used the phone while they were making dinner').
⭐ Usage Tips
Your Go-To for 'What did they do?'
This is the word you'll always use to ask or talk about what a group of people did. '¿Qué hicieron?' is a super useful question to have in your back pocket.
Hicieron also means 'they made,' referring to creating or producing something.
hicieron(Verb)
they made
?creating or producing something
they built
?construction
,they created
?art, ideas
,you all made
?formal 'you', addressing a group
📝 In Action
Mis abuelos hicieron esta mesa a mano.
A2My grandparents made this table by hand.
Hicieron un castillo de arena en la playa.
A2They made a sandcastle on the beach.
Los chefs hicieron una cena deliciosa.
B1The chefs made a delicious dinner.
💡 Grammar Points
'Hacer' is a Shape-Shifter
The verb 'hacer' changes its stem in this past tense. The 'c' changes to 'c' or 'z' depending on the person. For 'hicieron', it's 'hic-', but for 'he/she/it', it's 'hizo'. Just a little quirk to memorize!
⭐ Usage Tips
Did vs. Made
In English, 'did' and 'made' are different, but Spanish often uses 'hacer' for both ideas. Let the context guide you. If something was created, it means 'made'. If an action was performed, it means 'did'.
In a more advanced context, hicieron can mean 'they caused,' indicating that a group or thing brought about a result.
hicieron(Verb)
they caused
?bringing about a result or emotion
they made (someone feel)
?eliciting an emotional response
📝 In Action
Sus palabras me hicieron feliz.
B1Their words made me happy.
Los niños hicieron mucho ruido.
A2The children made a lot of noise.
Las fuertes lluvias hicieron que el río creciera.
B2The heavy rains caused the river to rise.
💡 Grammar Points
Cause and Effect
You can use 'hacer' + another verb to show that someone or something caused another action. For example, 'Me hicieron pensar' means 'They made me think'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: hicieron
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'hicieron' to mean 'they made a cake'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'hicieron' and 'hacían'?
Great question! Both are past tenses, but they describe actions differently. Use 'hicieron' for a single, completed action in the past ('They made dinner,' and it's done). Use 'hacían' for an ongoing or repeated action in the past ('They were making dinner when I arrived,' or 'They used to make dinner every Friday').
Why does 'hacer' change to 'hizo' for 'he/she' but 'hicieron' for 'they'?
It's one of the quirks of irregular Spanish verbs! To keep the 's' sound, the 'c' changes to a 'z' before an 'o' (hizo). But before an 'i' (hicieron, hicimos, hiciste), it can stay as a 'c'. It's a spelling rule to keep the pronunciation consistent, so you just have to memorize this little pattern.