The preterite of descubrir is used to express the moment of discovery in the past. For example, you might say “I discovered a new restaurant downtown yesterday,” indicating the specific point when you found something new.
This is a regular -ir verb that follows the standard preterite conjugation pattern. The conjugations follow a predictable pattern, making it easy to learn and use.
Conjugations
Conjugations of Descubrir (to discover) in the Preterite (Past) Tense tense (Latin American Spanish):
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | descubrí |
| Tú | descubriste |
| Él / Ella / Usted | descubrió |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | descubrimos |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | descubrieron |
Boost Your Memorization with Audio!
We’ve included audio recordings of the the conjugations of Descubrir (to discover) in the Preterite (Past) Tense to help you learn faster.
Pro Tip: Play the audio on a loop as you study the chart. This repetition will solidify the correct conjugations in your memory.
Usage of Descubrir in the Preterite (Past) Tense
The preterite of descubrir describes a completed action of discovering or uncovering in the past.
To discover/find out: Describes making a discovery, for example Descubrí la verdad por casualidad (I discovered the truth by chance) or Descubrieron un nuevo planeta (They discovered a new planet).
To uncover/reveal: Used for exposing something hidden, for example Descubrió el secreto familiar (He/she uncovered the family secret).
Examples
Examples of Descubrir in the Preterite (Past) Tense
Descubrí un restaurante nuevo. (I discovered a new restaurant.)
El científico descubrió una nueva especie. (The scientist discovered a new species.)
¿Qué descubriste en tu viaje? (What did you discover on your trip?)
Descubrimos una cueva antigua. (We discovered an ancient cave.)
Los arqueólogos descubrieron ruinas mayas. (The archaeologists discovered Mayan ruins.)
Descubrí que me gusta cocinar. (I discovered that I like cooking.)
¿Cómo descubriste la verdad? (How did you discover the truth?)
La policía descubrió el escondite. (The police discovered the hideout.)
Descubrimos un talento oculto. (We discovered a hidden talent.)
Los investigadores descubrieron la cura. (The researchers discovered the cure.)
Descubrí la contraseña por accidente. (I discovered the password by accident.)
Ella descubrió su vocación. (She discovered her vocation.)
Descubrimos un atajo al trabajo. (We discovered a shortcut to work.)
Los astrónomos descubrieron un nuevo planeta. (The astronomers discovered a new planet.)
¿Descubriste quién envió el regalo? (Did you discover who sent the gift?)
Conjugations with English Translations
Conjugations of Descubrir (to discover) in the Preterite (Past) Tense tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Yo descubrí | I discovered |
| Tú descubriste | You discovered |
| Él / Ella / Usted descubrió | He / She / You discovered |
| Nosotros / Nosotras descubrimos | We discovered |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes descubrieron | They / You all discovered |
This post covers Latin American Spanish. For Castilian Spanish, click here
Synonyms
The Preterite tense is also known as the Simple Past, Past Simple, Definite Past, Absolute Past, or Past Tense Indicative in English, and as Pretérito Perfecto Simple, Pretérito Indefinido, Pretérito Simple, Pasado Simple, or Pretérito de Indicativo in Spanish.