Introduction
Learning a single Spanish verb form can open a window into tense, person, and meaning. The word corrimos is one of those useful verb forms that appears often in everyday Spanish. It comes from the verb correr, which means to run. For English-speaking learners, recognizing and understanding corrimos helps with telling stories about the past, describing group activities, and communicating in both casual and formal settings. In this article you will find a clear definition, many example sentences, pronunciation help, and notes about when native speakers use corrimos. The goal is to make this verb form easy to remember and to show how to use it correctly in different situations. By the end, you will feel more confident spotting and using corrimos when speaking or reading Spanish.
Meaning and Definition
corrimos is the first person plural preterite form of the Spanish verb correr. In simple English, it usually means we ran. The preterite is a past tense used to describe actions that were completed at a specific time. So corrimos indicates that a group including the speaker ran at some definite moment or during a completed time period.
Basic definition: we ran (completed action in the past).
Common nuance: Because it is preterite, corrimos often suggests that the running happened once, finished, or occurred within a clear time frame. It is different from the imperfect tense corríamos, which would describe habitual or ongoing past running.
Etymology: correr comes from Latin currere, meaning to run. Many Romance languages have similar forms, which can help English speakers notice family resemblances to words like current or course, though those English words evolved different meanings.
Usage and Example Sentences
Below are safe and simple example sentences with translations. Each sentence shows corrimos used naturally. Note the context words like ayer, la semana pasada, or el domingo to emphasize the completed past action.
Spanish: Ayer corrimos cinco kilómetros en el parque.
English: Yesterday we ran five kilometers in the park.
Spanish: Después de la lluvia, corrimos para refugiarnos en la cafetería.
English: After the rain, we ran to take shelter in the café.
Spanish: En la escuela, corrimos en la pista durante la clase de educación física.
English: At school, we ran on the track during gym class.
Spanish: Cuando vimos el autobús, corrimos para no perderlo.
English: When we saw the bus, we ran so we wouldn’t miss it.
Spanish: El domingo pasado corrimos una carrera de caridad con amigos.
English: Last Sunday we ran a charity race with friends.
Spanish: Corrimos hasta el restaurante y llegamos justo a tiempo para la reserva.
English: We ran to the restaurant and arrived just in time for the reservation.
Spanish: Corrimos muy rápido porque empezó a anochecer.
English: We ran very fast because it started to get dark.
Spanish: En la excursión, corrimos por el sendero para alcanzar al grupo.
English: On the hike, we ran along the trail to catch up with the group.
Spanish: Corrimos pocas vueltas alrededor del lago antes de descansar.
English: We ran a few laps around the lake before resting.
Synonyms, Antonyms, and Word Usage Differences
Related verbs: caminar, trotar, sprintar (rare), andar. These verbs differ by speed and intention. For example, caminar means to walk, trotar means to jog, and correr means to run. Choose caminar when the movement is slow, trotar for light running or jogging, and correr for faster running or when speed is emphasized.
Opposites: caminar lentamente, quedarse quieto, detenerse. These express not running or stopping movement. To say we did not run, use no corrimos or no corrimos ayer if you want a negative past sentence.
Difference from corríamos: Both are first person plural but in different past tenses. Use corrimos (preterite) for an action that started and finished at a definite time: Corrimos dos horas. Use corríamos (imperfect) for habitual past actions or background descriptions: Corríamos todos los días cuando éramos niños. Practicing both helps learners decide between a completed action and ongoing or repeated past actions.
Difference from hemos corrido: Hemos corrido is present perfect and means we have run, often connecting past action to the present. Use corrimos when you talk about a specific finished past event, and hemos corrido when the experience matters now or the time period includes the present.
Pronunciation and Accent
Pronunciation guide: corrimos is pronounced approximately as ko-REE-mos in English-friendly spelling. The correct pronunciation in IPA is /koˈrimos/.
Stress: The stress falls on the second syllable ri, marked in IPA as koˈrimos. There is no written accent mark in corrimos because it follows regular Spanish stress rules for words ending in a vowel: the stress naturally falls on the penultimate syllable.
Common mistakes: English speakers sometimes place stress on the first syllable (COR-rimos) or reduce vowels too much. Practice saying ko-REE-mos, with a clear r sound. The double r as a single r here is a single flap r between vowels, similar to the t in American English city in fast speech, so it is not trilled. Avoid pronouncing it as a strong rolled r; in corrimos the initial c is /k/ and the r is a single vibrant r because it is between vowels and in the middle of the word.
Vowel tips: Spanish vowels are pure and short. Pronounce o as in go but shorter, i as in machine. Keep syllables evenly timed: ko-REE-mos.
Native Speaker Nuance and Usage Context
Everyday use: Native speakers use corrimos casually when telling stories or reporting what a group did. It often appears with time markers like ayer, anoche, la semana pasada, or specific times like a las ocho. For example, Vine: Ayer corrimos al final de la clase. It is common in speech because running is a frequent activity—sports, catching buses, or playful situations.
Formal vs informal: corrimos is neutral and works in formal and informal contexts. In writing, news or reports may use it for specific past events: Corrimos la maratón local el domingo. In conversation, it is equally natural: Corrimos para divertirnos en la playa. Because it is a simple, common verb, there is no special register tied to it.
Collocations: Words often used with corrimos include kilómetros, carrera, pista, parque, maratón, velocidad, and tiempo. Prepositions like a, por, hacia, and para often follow: corrimos hacia la plaza, corrimos por el sendero.
Idiomatic and figurative use: While primarily literal, correr and its forms can be figurative in contexts like running a business (correr un negocio) or running late (correr tarde is not typical; more common is llegar tarde or tener prisa). However, corrimos used figuratively is less common because it specifically references a group doing the running action in the past.
Conversation tips: If a native speaker says ¿Corrimos mucho? they might be asking if the group ran a lot. To answer, you can use short replies: Sí, corrimos bastante or No, corrimos solo un rato. Using time markers helps make your meaning clearer.
Conclusion
To summarize, corrimos is the first person plural preterite form of correr and means we ran, referring to a completed action in the past. It is frequently used in storytelling, sports contexts, and everyday conversation when describing a past run or a moment when a group of people moved quickly. Pronunciation is ko-REE-mos with stress on the second syllable and IPA /koˈrimos/. Learn to distinguish corrimos from corríamos and hemos corrido so you can express completed past actions, habitual past actions, or experiences connected to the present. Practice the example sentences aloud, pay attention to native collocations, and try using corrimos in short personal stories about what you and your friends did. With a few repetitions, this useful verb form will become a natural part of your Spanish vocabulary.
