The preterite of calentarse is used to express a specific instance of warming up in the past, for example Me calenté junto a la chimenea (I warmed myself up by the fireplace). This reflexive verb emphasizes the completed action of warming up at a particular moment.

This is a regular -ar verb used reflexively, meaning you need to include the appropriate reflexive pronoun with each conjugation. The verb itself follows the standard preterite pattern for -ar verbs.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Calentarse (to warm up) in the Preterite (Past) Tense tense (Latin American Spanish):

The preterite of calentarse indicates a completed action of warming up or heating up in the past.

To warm up/heat up: Describes becoming warm, for example Me calenté junto al fuego (I warmed up by the fire) or La sopa se calentó en el microondas (The soup heated up in the microwave).

To work up: In sports context, refers to warming up before exercise, for example Los atletas se calentaron antes del partido (The athletes warmed up before the match).

Examples

Examples of Calentarse in the Preterite (Past) Tense

Me calenté junto a la chimenea. (I warmed up next to the fireplace.)

Te calentaste con la manta eléctrica. (You warmed up with the electric blanket.)

El atleta se calentó antes del partido. (The athlete warmed up before the game.)

Nos calentamos con chocolate caliente. (We warmed up with hot chocolate.)

Los músicos se calentaron antes del concierto. (The musicians warmed up before the concert.)

Me calenté haciendo ejercicios. (I warmed up doing exercises.)

Te calentaste bajo el sol de la mañana. (You warmed up under the morning sun.)

La sopa se calentó en el microondas. (The soup warmed up in the microwave.)

Nos calentamos cerca del fuego. (We warmed up near the fire.)

Los deportistas se calentaron corriendo. (The athletes warmed up by running.)

Me calenté las manos con el café. (I warmed up my hands with the coffee.)

Te calentaste frotando tus brazos. (You warmed up by rubbing your arms.)

El motor se calentó después de arrancar. (The engine warmed up after starting.)

Nos calentamos bailando. (We warmed up by dancing.)

Los cantantes se calentaron la voz. (The singers warmed up their voices.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Calentarse (to warm up) 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.