sacó
/sah-KOH/
took out
When referring to physical removal, 'sacó' means 'took out.' This image shows a hand taking an object out of a pocket.
sacó(Verb (Past Tense))
took out
?physical removal
removed
?from a place
,pulled out
?drawing something out
📝 In Action
Mi hermano sacó su teléfono del bolsillo y me llamó.
A1My brother took his phone out of his pocket and called me.
El jardinero sacó todas las malas hierbas del suelo.
A2The gardener removed all the weeds from the ground.
💡 Grammar Points
The Preterite Tense
Sacó is the simple past tense (preterite) for 'he/she/it/you formal.' It describes an action that started and finished completely at a specific time in the past.
Spelling Change for 'Yo'
Even though 'sacar' is mostly regular, the 'yo' form in the preterite is 'saqué' (with a 'qu') to keep the hard 'k' sound. But 'sacó' (él/ella/usted) is regular.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Preterite and Imperfect
Mistake: "Using 'sacaba' when describing a single, completed action."
Correction: 'Sacó' means the action happened once and finished (e.g., 'He took out the keys once'). 'Sacaba' means the action was habitual or ongoing in the past.
⭐ Usage Tips
The 'Take Out' Verb
'Sacar' is the default verb for almost anything you take out—money from the bank, keys from your bag, or the dog for a walk.
'Sacó' can mean 'got' or 'obtained' when referring to achieving something, like winning a trophy.
sacó(Verb (Past Tense))
got
?obtained/achieved
earned
?grades/profits
,obtained
?documents/permits
📝 In Action
Ella estudió mucho y sacó la mejor nota de la clase.
A2She studied a lot and got the best grade in the class.
El negocio sacó buenas ganancias el mes pasado.
B1The business earned good profits last month.
💡 Grammar Points
Results and Achievements
When talking about results (like grades or licenses), 'sacar' is often used where English uses 'get' or 'earn.' 'Sacó' emphasizes the completion of the effort.
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking about Grades
To talk about how someone performed on a test, always use 'sacar': 'Sacó un diez' (He/She got a ten).
'Sacó' can mean 'concluded' or 'derived a conclusion,' visualized here by pieces of information fitting together to form a final result.
sacó(Verb (Past Tense))
concluded
?derived a conclusion
derived
?from data/evidence
,figured out
?informal conclusion
📝 In Action
Después de revisar los datos, el científico sacó una nueva hipótesis.
B2After reviewing the data, the scientist derived a new hypothesis.
Ella sacó que la reunión sería cancelada por la lluvia.
B2She figured out that the meeting would be canceled due to the rain.
💡 Grammar Points
Abstract Use
Think of this use as 'pulling' an idea or meaning 'out' of a body of information.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: sacó
Question 1 of 2
Which English translation best fits the sentence: 'El estudiante sacó diez en el examen.'
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'sacó' means 'took out' or 'got'?
The context is key! If it refers to a physical object and a place (like keys from a pocket), it means 'took out.' If it refers to a result, a number, or a document (like a grade or a permit), it means 'got' or 'obtained.'
If I want to say 'I took out,' should I use 'saqué' or 'sacé'?
You must use 'saqué.' Although 'sacar' ends in -ar, the 'c' changes to 'qu' in the 'yo' preterite form to maintain the hard 'k' sound. The form 'sacó' (he/she/you formal) does not have this change.