tuvimos
/too-VEE-mos/
we had
Illustrating possession: Tuvimos (we had) a new toy wagon.
tuvimos(Verb)
we had
?possession or ownership
,we got
?receiving something at a specific time
we held
?physical holding
📝 In Action
Ayer tuvimos una reunión muy productiva.
A1Yesterday we had a very productive meeting.
Solo tuvimos ese coche por tres meses, luego lo vendimos.
A2We only had that car for three months; then we sold it.
💡 Grammar Points
Irregular Preterite Stem
The past simple form (Preterite) of 'tener' is highly irregular. It uses the stem 'tuv-' for all conjugations, which is very different from the base form 'ten-'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Preterite and Imperfect
Mistake: "Using 'teníamos' when describing a single, completed past action."
Correction: 'Tuvimos' describes a single event with a clear start and end (e.g., 'we had a great time'). 'Teníamos' describes ongoing states or habits (e.g., 'we used to have long hair').
⭐ Usage Tips
Use for Sudden Events
In Spanish, the preterite form 'tuvimos' often implies 'we received' or 'we got' rather than just continuous 'having.' For instance, 'tuvimos un susto' means 'we got a fright.'
Illustrating experience: Tuvimos (we experienced) a wonderful night.
tuvimos(Verb)
we experienced
?feelings or sensations
,we felt
?physical feelings like hunger or cold
📝 In Action
En ese momento, ¡tuvimos mucha sed!
A2In that moment, we were (had) very thirsty!
Después del concierto, todos tuvimos un poco de dolor de cabeza.
B1After the concert, we all had a slight headache.
💡 Grammar Points
Tener vs. Ser/Estar for Feelings
Unlike English, which uses 'to be' (we are cold), Spanish uses 'tener' (we have cold) for certain physical states like hunger, thirst, heat, and cold.
Illustrating necessity/obligation: Tuvimos que (we had to) rake the leaves.
📝 In Action
Tuvimos que levantarnos a las cinco de la mañana para tomar el vuelo.
A2We had to get up at five in the morning to catch the flight.
¿Por qué no viniste? Tuvimos que hacer todo el trabajo solos.
B1Why didn't you come? We had to do all the work ourselves.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Tener Que' Structure
This phrase means 'to have to' or 'must.' Always follow 'tener que' with the base form of another verb (the infinitive) to explain what the obligation was: Tuvimos que [verb].
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: tuvimos
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'tuvimos' correctly to describe a single, completed action in the past?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'tuvimos' and 'teníamos'?
'Tuvimos' (Preterite) is used for actions that happened quickly or were completed at a specific moment (e.g., 'We had a good idea'). 'Teníamos' (Imperfect) is used for ongoing states, habits, or descriptions in the past (e.g., 'We had blue eyes,' 'We used to have fun').