aflojasteis

Aflojasteis is the second-person plural preterite (past simple) form of the Spanish verb aflojar, used with the pronoun vosotros. It means “you all loosened” or “you all slackened,” describing a completed action in the past where a group addressed as vosotros performed the act of loosening or relaxing something.

The verb aflojar has several related senses. It can refer to making something less tight or tense, such as loosening a screw, belt, or rope. It can also mean reducing intensity or pressure, for example, aflojasteis la tensión en la sala or aflojasteis la vigilancia. Figuratively, it can imply relaxing rules or restrictions, as in aflojasteis las normas. The sense is usually determined by the object or context accompanying the verb.

Grammatical notes: aflojasteis follows the regular -ar verb conjugation for the preterite with vosotros. This form is common in Spain and other regions that use vosostros forms. In many Latin American dialects where the vosotros form is not used, the corresponding past tense with ustedes is aflojaron (they loosened) or ustedes aflojaron, depending on the subject.

Examples:

- Aflójasteis las tuercas y la bici quedó estable.

- Después de la negociación, aflojasteis la presión sobre el equipo.

Etymology: aflojar comes from the base meaning related to loosening or slackening, with af- as a prefix intensifying the action. The usage and senses align with its physical and figurative meanings across Spanish varieties.