vencí

Vencí is the first-person singular form in the preterite (simple past) of the Spanish verb vencer. It means “I defeated” or “I overcame.” The form signals a completed action in the past and is used when the subject is the speaker (yo).

Etymology and related forms: vencer comes from Latin vincere, meaning to conquer or defeat. In Spanish, vencer is conjugated as an -er verb in the preterite, yielding vencí, venciste, venció, vencimos, vencisteis, vencieron. The accent on í marks the stressed syllable in the past tense form yo vencí.

Usage notes: vencí is commonly employed to describe success in competition, defeating an opponent, or overcoming obstacles. It is often contrasted with synonyms such as ganar (to win) or superar (to overcome), though vencer emphasizes defeating resistance or achieving a decisive result. The nuance can vary by context, with sports, battles, debates, or personal challenges all suitable backgrounds for the verb.

Examples:

- Vencí al equipo rival en la última minuto.

- Vencí mis temores y hablé ante la audiencia.

See also: vencer; conjugation patterns of -er verbs in the preterite; Spanish past tenses.