Want to master “Reír” conjugations fast?

This short audio loop makes it easy to memorize the forms for the Preterite (Past) Tense — just press play.

🔊 Audio plays automatically on a loop – makes memorization easy. While the audio plays, follow the chart below to reinforce what you hear.

Conjugation Chart

“Reír” (to laugh) in the Preterite (Past) Tense

Learn Faster with Loop-Based Learning

• 🧠 Activates natural language processing in the brain
• 🔄 Makes conjugations feel automatic
• 📝 Reduces mental effort compared to rote memorization
• 💡 Builds fluency through repetition

Unlike traditional methods that rely on memorizing rules and grammar drills, our approach mimics how native speakers naturally acquire language—by hearing patterns repeatedly in context. This activates your brain’s phonological loop, making verb forms feel familiar and automatic.

To learn more about the science behind this technique, read our detailed article: The Neuroscience of Language Learning: How Listening on a Loop Strengthens Your Fluency

Understanding the Preterite (Past) Tense of “Reír”

The preterite of reír is used to express when someone laughed at a specific moment in the past. For example, when you want to say “Everyone laughed at the joke” – “Todos rieron del chiste.”

This is an irregular verb in the preterite tense. It maintains its written accent marks throughout most conjugations and has some unique forms that must be memorized.

How to Use Reír in the Preterite (Past) Tense

The Preterite of reír indicates specific instances of laughter.

To laugh: Used for specific instances of laughter, for example Se rió de mi chiste (They laughed at my joke), or Reímos juntos toda la noche (We laughed together all night).

To mock: In certain contexts, indicates making fun of something, for example Se rieron de mi error (They laughed at my mistake).

Real Life Examples of Reír in the Preterite (Past) Tense

Me reí mucho durante la película. (I laughed a lot during the movie.)

Todos nos reímos de su chiste. (We all laughed at his joke.)

Te reíste cuando te conté la historia. (You laughed when I told you the story.)

Se rió tanto que le dolió el estómago. (He/she laughed so much that his/her stomach hurt.)

Los niños se rieron durante toda la función. (The children laughed throughout the entire show.)

¿Por qué te reíste de mí? (Why did you laugh at me?)

Nos reímos juntos por última vez. (We laughed together for the last time.)

Se rieron de sus propios errores. (They laughed at their own mistakes.)

Me reí sin querer en el momento equivocado. (I laughed unintentionally at the wrong moment.)

¿Te reíste cuando lo viste caer? (Did you laugh when you saw him fall?)

Nos reímos hasta llorar. (We laughed until we cried.)

Se rió de su propio chiste. (He/she laughed at his/her own joke.)

Os reísteis de la situación. (You all laughed at the situation.)

Me reí cuando recordé lo que pasó. (I laughed when I remembered what happened.)

Se rieron toda la noche. (They laughed all night.)

Conjugation Chart with English Translations

Conjugations of Reír (to laugh) in the Preterite (Past) Tense (Castilian Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Castilian Spanish. For Latin American 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.