tuviste
“tuviste” means “you had” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
you had
Also: you got, you held
📝 In Action
¿Qué coche tuviste cuando eras joven?
A1What car did you have when you were young?
Tuviste mucha suerte en la lotería la semana pasada.
A2You had a lot of luck in the lottery last week.
Lamentablemente, tuviste un accidente en el camino.
B1Unfortunately, you had an accident on the way.
you were
Also: you had to
📝 In Action
Llegaste tarde porque tuviste que ir al médico.
A2You arrived late because you had to go to the doctor.
Cuando viste esa araña, ¿tuviste miedo?
B1When you saw that spider, were you scared?
Tuviste razón al no aceptar esa oferta.
B2You were right not to accept that offer.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: tuviste
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'tuviste' to talk about a completed, specific action in the past?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin verb *tenēre*, meaning 'to hold' or 'to grasp.' The modern Spanish verb kept the core meaning of possession, while the simple past forms like 'tuviste' developed an unusual 'u-v' sound change typical of many common irregular Spanish verbs.
First recorded: Before the 10th century (as a derivative of Latin *tenēre* in early Ibero-Romance)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'tuviste' so different from 'tener'?
'Tuviste' is the simple past (preterite) of 'tener.' Spanish verbs often become highly irregular in this tense. 'Tener' is one of the most important verbs to memorize because it changes its root from 'ten-' to 'tuv-' in the simple past forms.
When should I use 'tuviste' instead of 'tenías'?
Use 'tuviste' when the action of having or experiencing happened once and is finished (e.g., 'You had a good idea'). Use 'tenías' (the descriptive past) when describing an ongoing or repeated past state (e.g., 'You were 10 years old' or 'You often had trouble').