tiró
/tee-ROH/
threw
The child threw (tiró) the ball high in the air.
tiró(Verb)
threw
?past action, tossing an object
,tossed
?past action, throwing lightly
knocked down
?as in 'tirar al suelo'
📝 In Action
Ella tiró la basura en el contenedor azul.
A2She threw the trash in the blue container.
Mi perro tiró mi zapato debajo de la cama.
A2My dog threw (dragged/tossed) my shoe under the bed.
Usted tiró la toalla, ¿verdad? Es hora de rendirse.
B1You threw in the towel, right? It's time to give up. (Figurative)
💡 Grammar Points
The Simple Past (Preterite)
This form, 'tiró', tells you that the action (throwing) happened and finished at a specific point in the past. It's used for completed events, like 'yesterday' or 'last week'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Tenses
Mistake: "Using 'tiraba' (the smooth, continuous past) instead of 'tiró' (the simple, completed past) for a single action."
Correction: 'Tiró' is for one throw that ended; 'tiraba' means 'he used to throw' or 'he was throwing' continuously.
⭐ Usage Tips
Remember the Accent
The accent mark on the 'ó' is crucial! It tells you this is the past tense (he/she threw). Without it ('tiro'), it means 'I throw' (present tense).
The figure shot (tiró) the weapon towards the target.
tiró(Verb)
shot
?past action, firing a weapon
,took (a photo)
?past action, photography (tirar una foto)
kicked
?in soccer, 'tirar a puerta' (shot on goal)
📝 In Action
El policía tiró al suelo para evitar la bala.
B1The police officer threw himself to the ground to avoid the bullet.
El fotógrafo tiró una foto espectacular del paisaje.
B1The photographer took a spectacular photo of the landscape.
El delantero tiró a puerta pero falló.
B2The striker shot on goal but missed.
💡 Grammar Points
Third Person Singular (He/She/You Formal)
The form 'tiró' refers to a single person (He, She, or the formal 'You') performing the action in the past.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
If you hear 'tiró' near words like 'pistola' (gun) or 'cámara' (camera), it shifts meaning from 'throw' to 'shoot' or 'take (a photo)'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: tiró
Question 1 of 2
Which of these actions describes the meaning of 'tiró' in the sentence: 'El niño tiró de la cuerda.'
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How is 'tiró' different from 'lanzó'?
'Tiró' (from tirar) and 'lanzó' (from lanzar) both mean 'threw'. 'Lanzar' often implies a more deliberate, powerful, or long-distance throw (like launching a rocket or throwing a spear). 'Tirar' is more general and common for everyday actions like throwing trash or tossing a ball.
Why does 'tiró' have an accent mark?
The accent mark on the 'o' is essential! It signals that this verb form is in the simple past tense (preterite) and belongs to the third person singular (he, she, or formal you). Without the accent ('tiro'), it means 'I throw' (present tense).