How to Say "took off" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “took off” is “quitó” — A2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Ella se quitó el sombrero antes de entrar a la casa.
She took off her hat before entering the house.
El doctor le quitó la venda ayer.
The doctor removed the bandage yesterday.
Usted quitó el error del informe a tiempo.
You (formal) took the error out of the report on time.
The Preterite Tense
This 'ó' ending tells you the action was a single event that finished completely in the past, like a checkmark on a to-do list.
Using 'Se Quitó'
When someone takes off their own clothing, you need the little word 'se' before 'quitó' (Ella se quitó el abrigo). This makes it reflexive, showing the action reflects back on the person.
Preterite vs. Imperfect
Mistake: “Usando 'quitaba' en lugar de 'quitó' para una acción finalizada.”
Correction: Use 'quitó' (Preterite) when describing a specific, completed moment (e.g., 'Ayer quitó la mesa'). Use 'quitaba' (Imperfect) for repeated or ongoing past actions.
Related Translations
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