Inklingo

usa

oo-sahˈu.sa

usa means uses in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

uses, is using

Also: employs
A1regular ar
A young child happily drawing with a red crayon on a sheet of white paper, demonstrating the action of using an object.
infinitiveusar
gerundusando
past Participleusado

📝 In Action

Ella usa el teléfono para trabajar.

A1

She uses the phone to work.

¿Usted usa lentes de contacto?

A1

Do you (formal) use contact lenses?

Mi coche usa gasolina premium.

A2

My car uses premium gas.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • usa el tiempohe/she uses the time

USA

Also: United States
/ B1
Global Spanish
A high quality simple colorful storybook illustration of the Statue of Liberty standing tall, representing the USA.

📝 In Action

El presidente de USA visitará Europa.

B1

The president of the USA will visit Europe.

Viajamos a USA el mes pasado.

A2

We traveled to the USA last month.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • EE. UU. (The official Spanish abbreviation for the United States)

Common Collocations

  • Visa para USAVisa for the USA

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedusa
youso
usas
ellos/ellas/ustedesusan
nosotrosusamos
vosotrosusáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedusaba
yousaba
usabas
ellos/ellas/ustedesusaban
nosotrosusábamos
vosotrosusabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedusó
yousé
usaste
ellos/ellas/ustedesusaron
nosotrosusamos
vosotrosusasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/usteduse
youse
uses
ellos/ellas/ustedesusen
nosotrosusemos
vosotrosuséis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedusara
yousara
usaras
ellos/ellas/ustedesusaran
nosotrosusáramos
vosotrosusarais

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "usa" in Spanish:

employsis usingunited statesusauses

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: usa

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'usa' as the verb form?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

The verb form of 'usa' comes from the Spanish infinitive 'usar', which traces back to the Latin verb *ūtī* meaning 'to make use of' or 'to employ'.

First recorded: The verb root has been in use since medieval Spanish.

Cognates (Related words)

French: userItalian: usare

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'usa' related to 'uso'?

Yes! 'Uso' is the 'yo' form (I use) of the verb 'usar,' and it is also the noun for 'use.' 'Usa' is the 'él/ella/usted' form of the same verb.

Should I write 'USA' or 'EE. UU.' in Spanish?

'EE. UU.' (with dots and a space) is the official Spanish abbreviation for *Estados Unidos*. While 'USA' is understood everywhere, 'EE. UU.' looks more formal and correct in written text.