salieron
/sah-lee-EH-rohn/
they left
They left: Depicting two people exiting a place.
salieron(Verb (Past Tense))
they left
?exiting a place
,you all left
?speaking to a group (ustedes)
they went out
?physical movement
,they came out
?emerging from somewhere
📝 In Action
Los bomberos salieron de la estación rápidamente.
A1The firefighters left the station quickly.
Ustedes salieron del cine antes de que terminara la película.
A2You all left the movie theater before the film ended.
Las tortugas marinas salieron del cascarón al mismo tiempo.
B1The sea turtles came out of the shell at the same time.
💡 Grammar Points
The Simple Past Tense (Preterite)
This form ('salieron') tells you that the action of leaving was completed at a specific point in the past. It's a finished event, like 'The guests left at midnight.'
Preposition Use
When talking about leaving a place, always use 'de' (of/from) right after 'salir': 'Salieron de la reunión' (They left from the meeting).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Leaving an object behind
Mistake: "Salieron su equipaje en el aeropuerto. (Incorrect use of salir)"
Correction: Dejaron su equipaje en el aeropuerto. (Use 'dejar' for leaving things behind, use 'salir' for leaving a place.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on the Exit
'Salir' focuses on the act of moving from inside to outside. Think of it as 'making an exit.'
They went out: Showing friends enjoying a social activity together.
salieron(Verb (Past Tense))
they went out
?socially, for fun
,they dated
?as a couple
you all went out
?social plans (ustedes)
📝 In Action
Mis padres salieron juntos por cinco años antes de casarse.
A2My parents dated for five years before getting married.
Los chicos salieron a cenar para celebrar el ascenso.
B1The guys went out to dinner to celebrate the promotion.
💡 Grammar Points
Adding an Activity
To say why they went out, use 'a' followed by the activity: 'Salieron a bailar' (They went out to dance).
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with 'con'
To specify who they dated, use 'con': 'Salieron con Pedro y María' (They went out with Pedro and María).
They turned out: Visualizing a successful result, like a perfect batch of baked goods.
salieron(Verb (Past Tense))
they turned out
?result or outcome
,they appeared
?in a photo or film
they resulted
?the final state
📝 In Action
Los pasteles salieron perfectos del horno.
B1The cakes turned out perfect from the oven.
Ellas salieron en las noticias de la noche.
B2They appeared on the night news.
Todos los detalles del plan salieron a la luz.
C1All the details of the plan came to light.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Use
When talking about results or quality, 'salir' acts like 'to turn out.' For example, 'La comida salió deliciosa' (The food turned out delicious).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: salieron
Question 1 of 2
Which English sentence correctly uses the meaning of 'salieron' as 'to turn out'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the base form of 'salieron'?
The base form is the infinitive verb 'salir,' which means 'to leave,' 'to go out,' or 'to exit.'
Does 'salieron' mean 'they left' or 'they went out'?
It means both! 'Salieron' is the past tense for the group 'ellos/ellas/ustedes.' You use it for 'They left the house' (physical exit) and 'They went out last night' (social activity).