Inklingo

How to Say "we decide" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “we decide” is “decidimos” — use 'decidimos' when you are talking about the present action of making a decision, or a habitual decision you make.

English → Spanish

decidimos

deh-see-DEE-mosde.siˈði.mos

Verb (Conjugated Form)A1General
Use 'decidimos' when you are talking about the present action of making a decision, or a habitual decision you make.
A storybook illustration showing two cartoon figures standing together, both pointing decisively along a path toward a distant tree.

Examples

Hoy decidimos comer en casa porque hace frío.

Today we decide to eat at home because it is cold.

El mes pasado decidimos cambiar de trabajo.

Last month we decided to change jobs.

Si hay mucha gente, siempre decidimos irnos a otro sitio.

If there are a lot of people, we always decide to go somewhere else.

The Dual Identity of 'Decidimos'

This word is unique because it is the exact same form for both 'we decide' (present tense) and 'we decided' (past tense/preterite). You rely completely on time words (like 'ayer' or 'hoy') to know which meaning is intended.

Verb Ending (-ir)

This word comes from the base verb 'decidir' (to decide), which is a regular verb ending in -ir. This means its changes follow a highly predictable pattern.

Ambiguity in Conversation

Mistake: “Using 'Decidimos' without any context, leaving the listener unsure if you are talking about the present or the past.”

Correction: To avoid confusion, always include a time marker (like *hace un rato* or *mañana*) or use a periphrasis for the future: 'Vamos a decidir mañana' (We are going to decide tomorrow).

acordamos

ah-kor-DAH-mohsa.koɾˈða.mos

Verb (Conjugated form)A2General
Use 'acordamos' when the focus is on reaching a mutual agreement or conclusion together with others.
Two friendly individuals, illustrated in a simple storybook style, shaking hands firmly to signify a mutual agreement.

Examples

Acordamos empezar el proyecto la próxima semana.

We agree (or agreed) to start the project next week.

Después de la reunión, acordamos bajar los precios.

After the meeting, we agreed to lower the prices.

Si no acordamos ahora, la fecha límite pasará.

If we don't agree now, the deadline will pass.

Dual Tense Identity

'Acordamos' is special because it means both 'we agree' (present action) and 'we agreed' (past finished action). Look for time markers (like 'ayer' or 'hoy') to figure out the tense.

Stem-Change Exception

Even though the verb 'acordar' is a stem-changer (o changes to ue in most forms, like 'yo acuerdo'), the 'nosotros' form keeps the original 'o'—it does not change to 'acuerdamos'.

Forgetting the 'Nos' for 'Remember'

Mistake: “Acordamos de ir al cine. (Intended: We remember going to the cinema.)”

Correction: Nos acordamos de ir al cine. The word 'acordamos' alone means 'we agreed' or 'we resolved'. To say 'we remember,' you MUST use the small word 'nos' before it.

Decidimos vs. Acordamos

Learners often confuse 'decidimos' and 'acordamos' by using 'acordamos' when they simply mean 'we made a choice' (where 'decidimos' is better). Remember, 'acordamos' specifically implies reaching a shared agreement or consensus, not just making a decision.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.