pudo
“pudo” means “was/were able to” in Spanish (successfully completed an action).
was/were able to, managed to
Also: could, he/she/it could, you (formal) could
📝 In Action
Ella pudo levantar la caja pesada.
A2She was able to lift the heavy box.
Juan no pudo venir a la fiesta.
A2Juan couldn't come to the party.
Después de mucho intentarlo, el equipo pudo ganar el partido.
B1After trying a lot, the team managed to win the game.
¿Usted pudo hablar con el gerente?
A2Were you (formal) able to speak with the manager?
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: pudo
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses `pudo` to describe a single, completed action in the past?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *potēre*, meaning 'to be able'. It shares a root with English words like 'potent' and 'potential'.
First recorded: Forms of this verb have been part of Spanish since its earliest stages, dating back to the 10th century.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between `pudo` and `podía`?
`Pudo` means someone 'was able to' and *did* something on a specific occasion. It implies a completed event. `Podía` describes a general ability or possibility in the past, without saying if the action actually happened. For example, 'Ella pudo abrir la puerta' (She managed to open the door) vs. 'Ella podía abrir la puerta' (She had the ability to open the door).
Is `pudo` only for 'he' and 'she'?
No, it's also for 'usted', the formal way of saying 'you'. So, 'Usted pudo terminar el trabajo' means 'You (formal) were able to finish the work'.