How to Say "I Chose" in Spanish

elegí

/elexi/from spelling rules

The English phrase "I chose" is translated into Spanish as elegí.

How does it change in a sentence?

In Spanish, the pronoun yo (I) is often omitted because the verb ending -í specifically indicates the first-person singular past tense.

/elexi/

In Spanish, the word elegante (elegant) shares the same root as elegí, stemming from the idea of having 'chosen' or 'selected' the best taste.
If you want to say you chose something by chance, you might use me tocó, which literally means 'it touched me' rather than using the active elegí.
In some Spanish dialects, using elegí for a casual choice like a flavor of ice cream can sound unintentionally dramatic, as if the speaker is making a solemn life decision.

Yo elegí los colores.
I chose the colors.
This sentence is useful for showing how to use elegí with a plural noun.
Tatoeba #13458866 by Seael, translation #5859788 by CK
Elegí ignorar el problema.
I chose to ignore the problem.
This sentence shows how to use elegí followed by an infinitive verb.
Tatoeba #2324902 by marcelostockle, translation #2307994 by CK
Esta es la vida que yo elegí.
This is the life that I chose.
This sentence demonstrates using elegí to describe a life path or situation.
Tatoeba #1685656 by teskmon, translation #679878 by ulyssemc1
Después de pensarlo mucho, opté por la carrera de medicina.
After much consideration, I chose a career in medicine.
Ayer elegí el color de pintura para mi dormitorio.
Yesterday I chose the paint color for my bedroom.
Cuando llegué a la tienda, agarré la camiseta más bonita que vi.
When I arrived at the store, I picked up the nicest t-shirt I saw.
3 more sentences on Tatoeba

Javier and Sofía are at a restaurant deciding what to eat.

Sources

IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.

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