emularon

Emularon is the third-person plural simple past tense form of the Spanish verb emular, meaning to imitate, reproduce, or strive to match someone or something. In English gloss, it corresponds to “they emulated” or, in regions where ustedes is used, “you all emulated.” As a conjugated form, emularon is used in narrative or descriptive past contexts to indicate completed actions of imitation.

Morphology and usage

The verb emular follows regular -ar conjugation patterns in the preterite for the ellos/ellas/ustedes subject group. The stem is emul-, and the standard preterite ending for this group is -aron, yielding emularon. The form is most common in past-tense narration describing imitation, emulation, or copying of methods, styles, or behaviors.

Etymology

Emular derives from Latin emulari, meaning to imitate or imitate closely. Through historical development in Old and Early New Spanish, the infinitive emular acquired a regular -ar pattern, and emularon emerged as the standard third-person plural preterite form.

Examples and nuances

- Los estudiantes emularon las técnicas de laboratorio aprendidas en clase. (The students emulated the laboratory techniques learned in class.)

- En la competencia, varios equipos emularon el estilo del campeón. (In the competition, several teams emulated the champion’s style.)

Emularon can carry positive, neutral, or negative connotations depending on context—imitation as admiration, as practical copying, or as lacking originality. The noun emulación refers to the act or process of emulating.

See also

emular, emulación, emulación en español.