Encendimos

Encendimos is the first-person plural preterite indicative form of the Spanish verb encender, meaning to light or to turn on. The phrase translates to “we lit” or “we turned on.” The infinitive encender, the gerund encendiendo, and the past participle encendido compose the verb’s core.

Grammatical notes: Encender is a verb of the -er conjugation, and in the preterite its nosotros form is encendimos. Other preterite forms are yo encendí, tú encendiste, él encendió, vosotros encendisteis, ellos encendieron. In the preterite, the stem remains encend- with standard endings.

Usage: Encendimos la vela para la cena; encendimos la luz cuando se fue la electricidad. Figuratively, the expression can describe initiating a conversation or sparking interest, as in encendimos el debate or encendieron su curiosidad.

Etymology: Encender derives from Latin incendere, through Old Spanish, with en- as a prefix and a root related to burning or kindling.

Regional and semantic notes: In many dialects, prender is a synonym of encender for turning on or lighting, though prender also has meanings such as arrestar or capturar in some varieties. Encender often emphasizes the act of starting ignition or illumination, while prender carries broader or context-dependent senses.

See also: encender, encendido, prender.