Inklingo

How to Say "you decided" in Spanish

English → Spanish

decidiste

/deh-see-DEES-teh//de.θiˈðis.te/

verbA2informal
Use this form when you are speaking to one person informally, like a friend, family member, or someone younger than you.
A simple storybook character stands confidently on a path. Behind the character, the path clearly splits into two distinct options, illustrating that a choice has been made.

Examples

¿Por qué decidiste cambiar de trabajo?

Why did you decide to change jobs?

Decidiste no venir a la fiesta anoche, ¿verdad?

You decided not to come to the party last night, right?

Cuando me llamaste, ya decidiste qué comprar.

When you called me, you had already decided what to buy.

Tense Function

This form, 'decidiste,' is the simple past tense (called the preterite). It describes an action—the act of deciding—that was finished and completed at a specific point in the past.

The 'Tú' Form

This ending (-iste) is unique to the 'tú' form, which is the informal way of saying 'you' when talking to one person (like a friend or family member).

Preterite vs. Imperfect

Mistake: “Usando 'Decidías ir' (You were deciding to go).”

Correction: Use 'Decidiste ir' (You decided to go). The preterite is used for a single, final choice, not for an ongoing process (which is what the imperfect implies).

decidió

verbA1formal
Use this form when you are speaking to one person formally, as you would with a stranger, elder, or in a professional setting, or when referring to 'he/she/it'.

Examples

Usted decidió no ir a la fiesta anoche.

You decided not to go to the party last night.

Informal vs. Formal 'You'

The most common mistake is using the informal 'decidiste' when the situation calls for the formal 'decidió' (addressing 'usted'). Always consider your relationship with the person you're speaking to; when in doubt, using the formal 'usted' form is safer.

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