How to Say "they used" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “they used” is “usaron” — A1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Ellos usaron la bicicleta para ir al mercado.
They used the bicycle to go to the market.
¿Ustedes usaron el coche nuevo ayer?
Did you all (formal) use the new car yesterday?
Las actrices usaron vestidos de gala en la ceremonia.
The actresses wore ball gowns at the ceremony.
The Simple Past (Preterite) Meaning
The form 'usaron' tells you about an action—'using' something—that started and finished completely at a specific moment in the past. It's a closed event.
Who Did the Action?
This form always refers to a group: 'ellos' (they, masculine/mixed), 'ellas' (they, feminine), or 'ustedes' (you all, formal).
Past Tense Confusion
Mistake: “Using 'usaban' (imperfect) when referring to a single, completed event.”
Correction: Use 'usaron' for actions that happened one time and ended ('Ayer usaron el coche'). Use 'usaban' for repeated or ongoing past actions ('Antes siempre usaban el coche').
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.