The preterite of sufrir is used to express a specific period of suffering in the past. For example, you might say “I suffered from a headache yesterday,” indicating a completed experience of discomfort.
This is a regular -ir verb that follows the standard preterite conjugation pattern. All forms are regular, making it predictable to conjugate.
Conjugations
Conjugations of Sufrir (to suffer) in the Preterite (Past) Tense tense (Latin American Spanish):
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | sufrí |
| Tú | sufriste |
| Él / Ella / Usted | sufrió |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | sufrimos |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | sufrieron |
Boost Your Memorization with Audio!
We’ve included audio recordings of the the conjugations of Sufrir (to suffer) 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 Sufrir in the Preterite (Past) Tense
The preterite of sufrir indicates a completed experience of suffering or enduring in the past.
To suffer: Describes experiencing pain or hardship, for example Sufrí mucho después del accidente (I suffered a lot after the accident) or Sufrieron grandes pérdidas (They suffered great losses).
To undergo: Used for experiencing changes or difficulties, for example El proyecto sufrió varios retrasos (The project underwent several delays).
Examples
Examples of Sufrir in the Preterite (Past) Tense
El equipo sufrió una derrota inesperada. (The team suffered an unexpected defeat.)
La ciudad sufrió graves daños por el terremoto. (The city suffered serious damage from the earthquake.)
El paciente sufrió un ataque de ansiedad. (The patient suffered an anxiety attack.)
La empresa sufrió grandes pérdidas financieras. (The company suffered major financial losses.)
El atleta sufrió una lesión durante el partido. (The athlete suffered an injury during the game.)
Mi computadora sufrió un daño irreparable. (My computer suffered irreparable damage.)
El proyecto sufrió varios retrasos. (The project suffered several delays.)
La relación sufrió por la falta de comunicación. (The relationship suffered from lack of communication.)
El edificio sufrió daños por el incendio. (The building suffered damage from the fire.)
La economía sufrió un grave retroceso. (The economy suffered a serious setback.)
El negocio sufrió por la pandemia. (The business suffered because of the pandemic.)
La plantación sufrió por la sequía. (The plantation suffered from the drought.)
El estudiante sufrió las consecuencias de no estudiar. (The student suffered the consequences of not studying.)
La calidad del producto sufrió por los cambios. (The product quality suffered from the changes.)
El barrio sufrió una transformación radical. (The neighborhood suffered a radical transformation.)
Conjugations with English Translations
Conjugations of Sufrir (to suffer) in the Preterite (Past) Tense tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Yo sufrí | I suffered |
| Tú sufriste | You suffered |
| Él / Ella / Usted sufrió | He / She / You suffered |
| Nosotros / Nosotras sufrimos | We suffered |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes sufrieron | They / You all suffered |
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.