soltó

Soltó is the third-person singular form of the Spanish verb soltar in the pretérito indefinido (simple past) tense. It translates to "he released," "she released," or "you released" (usted) depending on the subject. The verb soltar means to loosen, untie, release, drop, or let go, and it can also be used figuratively to mean letting out sounds, words, or emotions.

Etymology and meaning: Soltar comes from the Spanish verb family rooted in Latin, with meanings related to loosening or freeing. Over time, soltar acquired a broad range of senses tied to releasing objects, letting hands go, or permitting something to fall or be freed.

Usage: Soltó indicates a completed action in the past. It is used when the subject released or let something go, dropped an object, freed someone, or let out a sound or emotion. Examples include: "Soltó la cuerda" (he released the rope), "Soltó una carcajada" (she let out a laugh), "Soltó un suspiro" (he let out a sigh).

Conjugation note: Soltar is a regular -ar verb in many forms. In pretérito indefinido, the conjugation is: solté, soltaste, soltó, soltamos, soltasteis, soltaron. The accent on soltó marks the stressed syllable in the third-person singular form.

Usage caveat: Although similar, soltar should not be confused with other verbs that convey release or emission but have different stems in various tenses. In Spanish, soltar maintains its broad range of senses across physical, emotional, and figurative contexts.