Inklingo

How to Say "they found" in Spanish

English → Spanish

encontraron

/en-kon-TRA-ron//eŋ.konˈtɾa.ɾon/

verbA1general
Use 'encontraron' when referring to a completed past action of discovering something, especially a solution, object, or a place.
Two happy children peering into a green bush, pointing at a bright red ball they have discovered.

Examples

Ellos encontraron un mapa antiguo en el sótano.

They found an old map in the basement.

Las detectives encontraron la evidencia clave anoche.

The detectives found the key evidence last night.

¿Encontraron una solución al problema de tráfico?

Did you all find a solution to the traffic problem?

A Specific Past Action

"Encontraron" uses the simple past (preterite) form. This tells us the action (finding) began and finished quickly in the past, like a single event.

The 'They' Form

This ending, '-aron', is the standard way to say 'they' or 'you all' did a completed action in the past for any verb that ends in '-ar'.

Confusing Past Tenses

Mistake: “Usando "encontraban" para un evento puntual.”

Correction: Use "encontraron" for a specific, completed finding (They found it at 5 PM). Use "encontraban" only if they were routinely finding it or the finding was interrupted (They were finding things when...).

hallaron

/ah-YAH-rohn//aˈʝaɾon/

verbB1formal
Use 'hallaron' when referring to a group finding something that was lost, unknown, or hidden, often implying a more significant discovery.
A group of happy explorers in a forest pointing at a glowing, ancient treasure chest they have just discovered.

Examples

Los arqueólogos hallaron una tumba antigua.

The archaeologists found an ancient tomb.

Finalmente hallaron la respuesta que buscaban.

They finally found the answer they were looking for.

Ustedes hallaron el camino muy rápido.

You all found the way very quickly.

One-Time Past Actions

Use this form when you want to say that a group of people found something at a specific moment in the past.

Hallar vs. Encontrar

Mistake: “Using 'hallaron' for looking for your shoes at home.”

Correction: Use 'encontraron' for everyday things. 'Hallaron' sounds more like a significant discovery or a formal report.

Choosing Between 'Encontraron' and 'Hallaron'

Learners often use 'encontraron' for all situations because it's more common and introduced earlier. However, remember that 'hallaron' implies a more significant discovery, often of something lost or unknown, and is typically used in more formal contexts.

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