usé
“usé” means “I used” in Spanish (past action, completed).
I used
Also: I wore, I utilized
📝 In Action
Yo usé tu bolígrafo sin preguntar, lo siento.
A1I used your pen without asking, I'm sorry.
Para el viaje, usé la mochila más grande.
A2For the trip, I used the biggest backpack.
El mes pasado, usé todos mis días de vacaciones.
B1Last month, I used all my vacation days.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: usé
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'usé' to describe a single, finished action?
📚 More Resources
📚 Etymology▼
The verb *usar* comes from the Latin verb *ūtī*, meaning 'to make use of' or 'to employ.' The form *usé* is the direct continuation of this word in the simple past, referring to your own action.
First recorded: Old Spanish (around the 13th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'usé' have an accent mark?
The accent mark on the 'e' is necessary to show that the stress falls on the last syllable, which is a key feature of the 'yo' form (I) in the simple past tense for most regular verbs.
When should I use 'usé' versus 'he usado'?
Use 'usé' (simple past) when the action happened and finished at a definite time in the past (e.g., 'I used it yesterday'). Use 'he usado' (present perfect) when the action happened recently or its effects are still relevant now (e.g., 'I have used it many times').