Inklingo

How to Say "we experienced" in Spanish

English → Spanish

tuvimos

too-VEE-mos/tuˈβi.mos/

VerbA2General
Use 'tuvimos' when 'we experienced' refers to having feelings, sensations, or states of being, often translated as 'we had'.
Two friends sitting on a green hill at night, looking up in amazement at colorful fireworks exploding in the sky, symbolizing a shared experience.

Examples

El año pasado, tuvimos mucho frío en invierno.

Last year, we experienced (had) a lot of cold in the winter.

En ese momento, ¡tuvimos mucha sed!

In that moment, we were (had) very thirsty!

Después del concierto, todos tuvimos un poco de dolor de cabeza.

After the concert, we all had a slight headache.

Tener vs. Ser/Estar for Feelings

Unlike English, which uses 'to be' (we are cold), Spanish uses 'tener' (we have cold) for certain physical states like hunger, thirst, heat, and cold.

conocimos

/ko-no-SEE-mos//ko.noˈsi.mos/

VerbB1General
Use 'conocimos' when 'we experienced' means getting to know, meeting, or becoming familiar with people, places, or things for the first time.
Two simplified figures standing on a scenic overlook, gazing down at a large, colorful, stylized landmark or city, indicating they are exploring a new place.

Examples

Durante nuestra estancia, conocimos la cultura local.

During our stay, we experienced (got to know) the local culture.

Durante el viaje, conocimos muchos pueblos pequeños de la costa.

During the trip, we got to know (visited) many small towns on the coast.

Finalmente conocimos la verdad sobre el proyecto.

We finally found out (got to know) the truth about the project.

Preterite Aspect

When 'conocer' is used in the Preterite ('conocimos'), it usually means the beginning of the knowing process: 'we started to know' or 'we discovered/visited.' If you want to say 'we already knew' (for an extended time), you should use the Imperfect ('conocíamos').

Knowing vs. Finding Out

Mistake: “Thinking 'conocimos' only means 'we knew' (a state).”

Correction: In the simple past (Preterite), 'conocimos' often implies the action of 'finding out' or 'gaining knowledge' (We found out the truth; We visited the place for the first time).

Tuvimos vs. Conocimos

Learners often confuse 'tuvimos' (we had/felt) with 'conocimos' (we met/got to know). Remember that 'tuvimos' is for sensations or states, while 'conocimos' implies encountering something new.

Related Translations

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