suelen
“suelen” means “they usually” in Spanish (as in, 'they usually do something').
📝 In Action
Mis padres no comen carne. Suelen comer pescado.
A2My parents don't eat meat. They usually eat fish.
Los problemas suelen aparecer cuando menos los esperas.
B1Problems tend to appear when you least expect them.
¿Ustedes suelen ir al gimnasio o prefieren caminar?
A2Do you all usually go to the gym or do you prefer to walk?
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "suelen" in Spanish:
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: suelen
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'suelen'?
📚 More Resources
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology
The verb 'soler' (from which 'suelen' is conjugated) comes from the Latin verb *solere*, which meant 'to be accustomed to' or 'to be in the habit of.' It has maintained this core meaning for centuries.
First recorded: Old Spanish
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'soler' have so many blank spaces in the conjugation table?
'Soler' is what linguists call a 'defective verb.' This means it is only commonly used in tenses that describe repeated actions or habits, primarily the Present and the Imperfect. It is very rare or impossible to use it in tenses like the Preterite (single past action), Future, or Conditional.
Is 'suelen' the same as 'estar acostumbrados a'?
They are very similar! Both express habit. 'Suelen' is often a simpler, more direct way to say 'they usually do X.' 'Estar acostumbrados a' means 'they are accustomed to X,' and it is followed by a noun or a verb in the infinitive.