solemos

Solemos is the first-person plural present indicative form of the Spanish verb soler. It functions as a semi-auxiliary to express habitual actions or tendencies in the present. In English, it is often translated as “we usually” or “we tend to.”

Grammar and usage

Soler is irregular in the present tense and is typically used with an infinitive. The standard present forms are suelo, sueles, suele, solemos, soléis, suelen. The form solemos is used with nosotros, as in “solemos comer temprano” (we usually eat early). Soler is almost always followed by an infinitive verb, conveying a sense of habit rather than a single completed action. Examples: “Solemos ir al cine los viernes.” (We usually go to the cinema on Fridays.) Negative constructions use no: “No solemos salir por la noche.” Habitual actions in the past are expressed with the imperfect form: “solía ir al parque todos los domingos” (I/we used to go to the park every Sunday).

Conjugation note

Soler is a semi-auxiliary verb: its meaning shifts when combined with another verb. In present tense, the verb shows a stem change (o to ue) in most forms, while the nosotros and vosotros forms (solemos, soléis) reflect the regular present endings with the stem slightly altered.

Etymology

Soler derives from Latin solere, meaning to be accustomed. Its participle solitus influenced its sense as “to be in the habit of.”

See also

Solent verbs and other semi-auxiliary verbs in Spanish grammar, including soler in different tenses and moods.