estuv

Estuv is the irregular preterite stem of the Spanish verb estar, used to form the simple past tense for all persons. When combined with the standard preterite endings, it yields the conjugations estuve, estuviste, estuvo, estuvimos, estuvisteis, estuvieron.

Morphology and related forms: Estar belongs to a small group of Spanish verbs that form their preterite with an -uv- stem. Other members include andar (anduv-), tener (tuv-), and poder (pud-). The estub- stem is specific to estar, and the complete conjugations are estuve, estuviste, estuvo, estuvimos, estuvisteis, estuvieron, with the endings -e, -iste, -o, -imos, -isteis, -uvieron (phonetic adjustments occur in pronunciation like in estuvieron).

Usage: The preterite of estar is used to describe a state or location in the past that has been completed. It is common in narrative and reporting of past events. It contrasts with the imperfect tense, which describes ongoing or habitual past states, such as estaba contento versus estuve contento.

Examples:

- Ayer estuve en Madrid todo el día.

- ¿Dónde estuviste la noche pasada?

- Él estuvo en la tienda cuando llovió.

- Estuvimos esperando una hora, pero no llegó.

Etymology and context: The verb estar derives from the Latin root related to being or standing, and the estuv- stem reflects historical irregular development in the Iberian Romance preterite. The exact historical pathway for estuv- is part of the broader pattern of irregular stems that characterize the Spanish preterite for estar and related verbs.