exigí

Exigí is the first-person singular form of the Spanish verb exigir in the pretérito indefinido (simple past). It translates to “I demanded” or “I required” and is used to indicate that the speaker made a firm demand in the past. Exigir is a transitive verb, so it typically takes a direct object (exigir algo) or a person as the indirect object (exigirle algo, exigirle a alguien). It can also introduce subordinate clauses with que + subjunctive to express a demand or obligation (exigió que viniera, in other forms).

Etymology and meaning: exigir comes from Latin exīgēre, meaning to drive out, drive forth, or demand. In modern Spanish, it carries a sense of insistence or firmness beyond a simple request, often implying that a condition or standard is expected to be met.

Conjugation notes: In the pretérito indefinido, the forms are: yo exigí, tú exigiste, él/ella exigió, nosotros exigimos, vosotros exigisteis, ellos/ellas exigieron. The yo form carries an accent (exigí) to indicate the correct stressed syllable. In present tense forms, the verb changes more regularly to exijo, exiges, exige, exigimos, exigís, exigen, reflecting a stem change from e to i in the present.

Usage tips: Use exigir when you want to convey a strong or formal demand, not a mere request. Distinguish from pedir (to ask for) or reclamar (to claim or protest) by its intensity and the obligation it conveys. Examples include “Exigí una explicación” and “La empresa exigió un compromiso por escrito.”