enseñó
/enseɲo/from spelling rules
The English word 'taught' is translated into Spanish as enseñó.
This term is used to describe the past tense of providing knowledge or a skill to another person.
Which one should you use?
The form enseñó refers to a completed action in the past. This differs from enseñaba, which describes an ongoing or habitual action in the past, such as 'was teaching' or 'used to teach'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form enseñó is used for the third-person singular (he, she or it) in the preterite tense. The form Enseñaste is the second-person singular past tense.
How do you pronounce it?
/enseɲo/
Did you know?
- The verb enseñar comes from the word seña, meaning 'sign'. To teach something in Spanish is literally to 'show' it or 'point it out' to someone.
- The verb enseñar can also mean 'to show' something to someone, such as a photograph or a way on a map. While English uses 'taught' exclusively for instruction, a Spanish speaker might use the same verb to say they 'showed' a person a new object.
- If you want to say someone 'taught' you a lesson in a punitive or disciplinary sense, you would often use the verb dar, as in me dio una lección, rather than enseñó.
Examples in context
- Tom me enseñó eso.Tom taught me that.This sentence is useful for showing how to use the form enseñó to state that someone taught you something.Tatoeba #5001147 by cueyayotl, translation #2647876 by CK
- ¿Quién te lo enseñó?Who taught you this?This sentence is useful for using the form enseñó to ask who taught someone something.Tatoeba #5147726 by don_ramon, translation #5147215 by Hybrid
- Él me enseñó historia.He taught me history.This sentence is useful for using the form enseñó to state that someone taught a specific subject like history.Tatoeba #1273902 by marcelostockle, translation #370634 by saeb
- Enseñé matemáticas en la universidad durante varios años.I taught mathematics at the university for several years.
- El profesor enseñó inglés de manera excelente.The teacher taught English excellently.
- Enseñamos historia en la escuela primaria el año pasado.We taught history at the elementary school last year.
- Le enseñé a mi hermano a andar en bicicleta.I taught my brother how to ride a bicycle.
- ¿Le enseñaste a Gabriela cómo cocinar paella?Did you teach Gabriela how to cook paella?
- Los entrenadores enseñaron a los jugadores nuevas tácticas de juego.The coaches taught the players new game tactics.
- La maestra enseñó a los estudiantes cómo resolver problemas matemáticos complejos.The teacher taught the students how to solve complex math problems.
- Mis abuelos me enseñaron a bailar salsa.My grandparents taught me how to dance salsa.
- 85 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and María are discussing how Maria learned to play the guitar.
- Mateo¿Cómo aprendiste a tocar la guitarra?How did you learn to play the guitar?
- MaríaMi hermano me enseñó los primeros pasos.My brother taught me the first steps.
- MateoÉl te enseñó muy bien.He taught you very well.
- MaríaSí, es un gran maestro.Yes, he is a great teacher.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
