usé
/use/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I wore" is translated into Spanish as usé.
usé is used to express that you wore a piece of clothing or an accessory in the past as a completed action.
Which one should you use?
While usé refers to a completed action, you might use llevaba to mean "I was wearing" when describing a continuous state of wearing something over a period of time in the past. Additionally, in many Spanish-speaking regions, llevé is more commonly used than usé to mean "I wore" when specifically referring to clothing.
How does it change in a sentence?
usé is the first-person singular preterite indicative of the verb usar.
How do you pronounce it?
/use/
Did you know?
- Spanish has a specific verb lucir which translates to 'to wear' but carries the extra meaning of 'showing off' or 'looking radiant' in a garment.
- Because llevar means both 'to wear' and 'to carry', a sentence like llevé el sombrero is ambiguous. Without context, it could mean 'I wore the hat' or 'I carried the hat' in your hands.
- If you say me puse instead of usé, you are describing the specific moment you put the clothes on rather than the state of wearing them.
Examples in context
- Ayer usé mi camisa favorita para la fiesta.Yesterday, I wore my favorite shirt to the party.
- Yo me puse un vestido amarillo.I wore a yellow dress.
- Hoy usé una chaqueta de cuero negro.Today, I wore a black leather jacket.
- Usé una camisa azul.I wore a blue shirt.
- Ayer usé mi chaqueta nueva.Yesterday I wore my new jacket.
- Usé un vestido rojo en la fiesta.I wore a red dress at the party.
- No usé las botas porque llovía.I didn't wear the boots because it was raining.
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are talking about a photo from a wedding.
- Mateo¿Qué ropa usaste para la boda?What clothes did you wear for the wedding?
- ElenaUsé un vestido azul muy elegante.I wore a very elegant blue dress.
- MateoTe veías muy bien, Elena.You looked very good, Elena.
- ElenaGracias, Mateo, fue un día lindo.Thanks, Mateo, it was a lovely day.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
