aprovechó

Aprovechó is the pretérito indefinido form of the Spanish verb aprovechar. It means to take advantage of something in order to obtain a benefit, to make the most of a situation, or to profit from a resource or opportunity. The usage can be neutral or positive when someone uses a favorable circumstance well, or neutral/negative when the action is viewed as exploiting a situation or others.

Etymology and sense: The verb aprovechar comes from the noun provecho, meaning benefit or use, with the prefix a- indicating toward or access to that benefit. The idea is to gain value from something available. The associated reflexive form aprovecharse de expresses taking undue advantage of someone or something, often with a pejorative nuance.

Conjugation and usage notes: Aprovechar is a regular -ar verb. Its pretérito indefinido forms include: yo aproveché, tú aprovechaste, él/ella/Ud. aprovechó, nosotros aprovechamos, vosotros aprovechasteis, ellos aprovecharon. The specific form aproveché, aprovechaste, aprovechó, etc., appears in past narratives, reports, and summaries.

Common collocations and nuances: Seizing opportunities is frequently expressed with aprovecharse de una oportunidad, aprovechar el tiempo, aprovechar los recursos, aprovechar al máximo algo, or aprovechar una oferta. Distinctly, aprovecharse de alguien conveys exploiting or taking advantage of a person’s vulnerability or goodwill, which carries a negative connotation.

See also: aprovechar, provecho.