Coloqué

Coloqué is generally treated as a nonstandard spelling of the Spanish verb colocar in the simple past (preterite) form. In standard usage, the first-person singular preterite form is colocqué, formed from the root coloc- plus the appropriate preterite ending with the orthographic change that -car verbs undergo in the yo form. Because of this spelling rule, coloqué is considered incorrect in formal writing, though it may appear as a misspelling in informal text.

Colocar is a transitive verb meaning to place, put, or position something. It is derived from Latin collocare (to place together) and is used across a wide range of contexts, from physically setting an object to arranging items or assigning positions. In everyday speech, colocar often conveys a sense of deliberate placement or installation, such as colocar un libro sobre la mesa or colocar una mesa en una habitación.

The verb also appears in reflexive constructions, as colocarse, which can indicate positioning oneself in a place or adopting a particular stance or role. Colocar has a regular preterite paradigm for most speakers, with the notable orthographic adjustment in the first-person singular to preserve the /k/ sound before a front vowel.

Related terms include colocación (the act of placing or arrangement) and colocable (capable of being placed). Colocar is widely taught as a standard verb in Spanish learning materials, and its correct preterite forms are documented in standard grammars and dictionaries.