The preterite of traer is used to express a specific instance of bringing something in the past. For example, you might say “I brought the documents to the meeting,” describing a completed action of carrying something to a destination.
This is an irregular verb in the preterite tense, with a unique conjugation pattern that must be memorized. The stem changes to ‘traj-‘ throughout the preterite tense.
Conjugations
Conjugations of Traer (to bring) in the Preterite (Past) Tense tense (Latin American Spanish):
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | traje |
| Tú | trajiste |
| Él / Ella / Usted | trajo |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | trajimos |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | trajeron |
Boost Your Memorization with Audio!
We’ve included audio recordings of the the conjugations of Traer (to bring) 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 Traer in the Preterite (Past) Tense
The Preterite of traer expresses completed actions of bringing or carrying in the past.
To bring: Physical transport, for example Traje los documentos que me pediste (I brought the documents you asked for).
To cause/bring about: Creating consequences, for example Su decisión trajo muchos problemas (His decision brought many problems).
Examples
Examples of Traer in the Preterite (Past) Tense
Traje comida para todos. (I brought food for everyone.)
Mi amigo trajo las bebidas a la fiesta. (My friend brought drinks to the party.)
¿Qué trajiste de tu viaje? (What did you bring from your trip?)
Trajimos regalos para los niños. (We brought gifts for the children.)
Los estudiantes trajeron sus libros. (The students brought their books.)
El mesero trajo la cuenta. (The waiter brought the bill.)
Traje mi computadora al trabajo. (I brought my computer to work.)
¿Trajiste el paraguas? (Did you bring the umbrella?)
Mi hermana trajo a su nuevo novio. (My sister brought her new boyfriend.)
Trajimos suficiente para compartir. (We brought enough to share.)
Los invitados trajeron postres. (The guests brought desserts.)
Traje documentos importantes. (I brought important documents.)
El viento trajo hojas secas. (The wind brought dry leaves.)
Trajimos souvenirs del viaje. (We brought souvenirs from the trip.)
Los músicos trajeron sus instrumentos. (The musicians brought their instruments.)
Conjugations with English Translations
Conjugations of Traer (to bring) in the Preterite (Past) Tense tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Yo traje | I brought |
| Tú trajiste | You brought |
| Él / Ella / Usted trajo | He / She / You brought |
| Nosotros / Nosotras trajimos | We brought |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes trajeron | They / You all brought |
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.