Solé

Solí is the first-person singular preterite form of the Spanish verb soler, which means “to be accustomed to” or “to usually do.” In modern Spanish, the preterite forms of soler are rarely used; speakers typically express habitual past actions with the imperfect form solía. The preterite forms exist and are mainly found in older texts or in literary or regional varieties.

Conjugation and forms: the full preterite paradigm of soler is solí, soliste, solió, solimos, solisteis, solieron. The first-person singular form solí carries an accent on the í, signaling the preterite tense. The other forms follow regular -er/-ir preterite endings with the stem sol- (soliste, solió, solimos, solisteis, solieron).

Usage notes: solí, along with the other preterite forms, is largely historical or literary in contemporary usage. When expressing habitual past actions today, Spanish commonly uses solía + infinitive (e.g., solía ir), or the present of soler to describe present habits. The preterite can express a past habit as if it were a completed sequence in some literary contexts, or appear in regional dialects that retain older verb forms.

Etymology: soler comes from Latin solēre, meaning “to be accustomed,” with the passive participle solitus contributing to its sense of habit or familiarity. The preterite forms reflect an older aspect system that expresses completed or emphasized past actions, now largely supplanted by the imperfect in everyday speech.