The preterite of derretir is used to express a specific instance of melting in the past, for example El sol derritió el helado (The sun melted the ice cream). This tense emphasizes the completed action of melting at a particular moment.

This verb follows the e to i stem-changing pattern in the preterite, but only in the third person singular and plural forms. The stem change occurs when the stress falls on these forms.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Derretir (to melt) in the Preterite (Past) Tense tense (Latin American Spanish):

The preterite of derretir describes a completed action of melting or dissolving in the past.

To melt: Describes changing from solid to liquid state, for example El sol derritió la nieve (The sun melted the snow) or Se derritió el helado (The ice cream melted).

To dissolve: Used for something dissolving completely, for example El azúcar se derritió en el café (The sugar dissolved in the coffee).

To melt away: Used figuratively, for example Sus preocupaciones se derritieron (Their worries melted away).

Examples

Examples of Derretir in the Preterite (Past) Tense

Derretí el chocolate para el pastel. (I melted the chocolate for the cake.)

Derretiste el queso en la pizza. (You melted the cheese on the pizza.)

El sol derritió el helado. (The sun melted the ice cream.)

Derretimos la mantequilla para la receta. (We melted the butter for the recipe.)

Los cocineros derritieron el caramelo. (The cooks melted the caramel.)

Derretí la cera para las velas. (I melted the wax for the candles.)

Derretiste el hielo con sal. (You melted the ice with salt.)

La primavera derritió la nieve. (Spring melted the snow.)

Derretimos el metal para la escultura. (We melted the metal for the sculpture.)

Los rayos solares derritieron el glaciar. (The sun rays melted the glacier.)

Derretí el azúcar para el caramelo. (I melted the sugar for the caramel.)

Derretiste el plástico accidentalmente. (You accidentally melted the plastic.)

El calor derritió la cera. (The heat melted the wax.)

Derretimos el queso para la fondue. (We melted the cheese for the fondue.)

Las altas temperaturas derritieron el asfalto. (The high temperatures melted the asphalt.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Derretir (to melt) in the Preterite (Past) Tense tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:

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.