él pudo

could, was able to, as … as [someone] could; as … as possible, could; was able to, was able to; had the chance to

ˈp u d o → poder
pud can; be able to + o he/she/it past tense
auxiliary · third singular · past indicative Common #2,936
could, was able to Simple past (preterite) form of "poder" (used for a completed ability or possibility in the past).
SP: No pudo venir ayer.
EN: He/She couldn't come yesterday.
Conjugation of poder
Indicative past
SingularPlural
First pude pudimos
Second pudiste —
Third pudo pudieron

Sólo un hombre fuerte y hábil con la espada pudo haberlos matado a todos.

Only a strong man skilled with the sword could have killed them all.

— Yojimbo. El mercenario (1961)

Chris consiguió trabajo pintando casas y pudo reunir el dinero.

Chris got a job painting houses and was able to save up the money.

Ni siquiera el coronel Chuodeng pudo detenerlo.

Not even Colonel Chuodeng could stop him.

— Ip Man (2008)

Tom pudo haber dejado su llave del auto en la habitación de Mary.

Tom may have left his car key in Mary's room.

Lo mejor que pudo haberme pasado, doctor.

The best thing that could have happened to me, doctor.

— Carandiru (2003)

Ni siquiera ella pudo protegerlo.

Not even she could protect him.

— Carandiru (2003)

Sé que pudo ponerse ropa de civil y huir.

I know he was able to change into civilian clothes and escape.

— Las flores de la guerra (2011)

No hubo nadie a quien Tom pudo contar su historia.

There was no one to whom Tom could tell his story.

Tom nunca pudo olvidar el horror de la guerra.

Tom could never forget the horror of war.

Él pudo reducir los impuestos.

He was able to reduce the taxes.

Eso me pudo haber pasado a mí.

That could have happened to me.

Después del accidente, nunca más pudo mover la pierna.

After the accident, he was never able to move his leg again.

Ninguno de los profesores pudo resolver el problema.

None of the teachers could solve the problem.

No lo pudo convencer de que aceptara un cheque personal.

He couldn't convince him to accept a personal check.

Jim pudo oír a quien ella llamó.

Jim could hear who she called.

Si no hubiera sido por el tratamiento médico, este paciente pudo haber muerto.

If it hadn't been for the medical treatment, this patient could have died.

Usted pudo escoger a su compañero de nivel.

You were able to choose your partner at the same level.

— El hoyo (2019)

Ella pudo resolver el problema con facilidad.

She was able to solve the problem easily.

Ninguna estrella se pudo ver esa noche.

No stars could be seen that night.

No se me pudo ocurrir cómo hacerlo.

I couldn't think of how to do it.

Pudo hacerlo, ¿no?

He/She managed to do it, didn’t they?

— El conformista (1971)

Pero le recordaba a alguien, y no lo pudo evitar.

But he reminded her of someone, and she couldn't help it.

— Caché (Escondido) (2005)

Nunca pudo soportar el frío.

He could never stand the cold.

— El hombre de la Tierra (2007)

Me alegro de que pudo venir.

I'm glad you could come.

Ningún hombre entre ellos pudo levantar el peso.

None of the men among them could lift the weight.

Ni siquiera la nave más grande pudo soportar el peso de ése y se estrelló.

Not even the largest ship could withstand its weight and it crashed.

— Nausicaä del valle del viento (1984)

Ningún hombre pudo hacerlo.

No man could do it.

Tom pudo decirle a María la verdad, pero eligió no hacerlo.

Tom could have told Maria the truth, but he chose not to.

Tomás no se pudo controlar al ver a María besando a Juan.

Tomás couldn't control himself when he saw María kissing Juan.

Lo que nunca pudo entender el FBI.

What the FBI could never understand.

— Uno de los nuestros (1990)

Buscamos a los dos chicos por todas partes, pero ninguno pudo ser encontrado.

We searched everywhere for the two boys, but neither could be found.

Tom pudo haber ganado.

Tom could have won.

Tom pudo haber tenido un cómplice.

Tom may have had an accomplice.

Traté de hablarle al mesero en francés, pero no me pudo entender.

I tried to speak to the waiter in French, but he couldn't understand me.

Y eso solo pudo pasar si se cruzó con nuestro hijo en algún momento.

And that could only have happened if he crossed paths with our son at some point.

— Contratiempo (2017)

Ni siquiera mi tutor pudo resolver la ecuación.

Not even my tutor could solve the equation.

Él pudo haberlo hecho.

He could have done it.

— Leviatán (2014)

Desde allí pudo mandar el mensaje con el móvil de Laura.

From there he was able to send the message using Laura's mobile phone.

— Contratiempo (2017)

Sami pudo explicárselo bastante rápido.

Sami was able to explain it to him quite quickly.

Ray pudo largarse, pero el arma se quedó.

Ray was able to leave, but the gun stayed behind.

— Mystic River (2003)

Pudo haber muerto.

He could have died.

— Casi famosos (2000)

Mi hijo nunca pudo pasar gatos callejeros y era muy bueno con los huérfanos.

My son could never walk past stray cats, and he was very good with the orphaned ones.

— Thirst (2009)

La policía pudo encontrar al criminal.

The police were able to find the criminal.

Tom ni pudo decir adiós.

Tom couldn't even say goodbye.

Esta foto demuestra que todo pudo pasar tal y como me conviene.

This photo proves that everything could have happened exactly as it suited me.

— Contratiempo (2017)

Pudo ser cualquier cosa.

It could have been anything.

Nadie más pudo ser.

No one else could have been.

Fadel nunca pudo conseguir un trabajo estable.

Fadel was never able to get a stable job.

Con humor, él pudo cubrir su tristeza.

He used humor to mask his sadness.

Lo último que aquella anciana pudo oír fue el ruido de un cristal roto.

The last thing that old woman heard was the sound of breaking glass.

— El club de los poetas muertos (1989)

Tom pudo estar disfrazado.

Tom could have been in disguise.

Chris fue contratado para pintar casas y pudo juntar el dinero.

Chris was hired to paint houses and was able to save up the money.

Tom pudo haber sido asesinado.

Tom may have been murdered.

Para él, tú eres su gran orgullo, el mayor que nunca pudo imaginar.

To him, you are his great pride—the greatest he could have ever imagined.

— Comer, beber, amar (1994)

Tom pudo oír que llamaban su nombre.

Tom could hear them calling his name.

Hayes pudo ir mucho más rápido en la vuelta de formación.

Hayes was able to go much faster on the formation lap.

— F1 la película (2025)

Quiero demostrar que Santiago pudo haber muerto sin veneno alguno.

I want to prove that Santiago could have died without any poison whatsoever.

— Algunos hombres buenos (1992)

Era su palabra contra la suya, y usted pudo probar su versión.

It was his word against yours, and you were able to prove your side of the story.

— Durante la tormenta (2018)

Tom nunca pudo ocultar un secreto a Mary.

Tom could never keep a secret from Mary.

No sé qué pudo haber pasado.

I don't know what could have happened.

Él pudo nadar lo suficientemente rápido para pasar la prueba.

He was able to swim fast enough to pass the test.

Cualquiera pudo hacer esto.

Anyone could have done this.

Y por fin pudo arrancar.

And finally, it was able to start.

— F1 la película (2025)

Sonreir y asentir fue todo lo que ella pudo hacer.

Smiling and nodding was all she could do.

Ella pudo haberlos comprado en Calcuta.

She could have bought them in Calcutta.

— Piku (2015)

No se pudo hacer nada.

Nothing could be done.

— Zeta (2026)

Bueno, no se pudo evitar.

Well, it couldn't be helped.

— Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

Supongo que no se pudo evitar el divorcio.

I suppose the divorce couldn't be avoided.

— Arrietty y el mundo de los diminutos (2010)

Tom no se pudo controlar.

Tom couldn't control himself.

Pudo haberla convencido de cualquier cosa.

He could have convinced her of anything.

— Psicosis (1960)

Ella no lo pudo convencer para que le comprara un auto nuevo.

She couldn't convince him to buy her a new car.

Pudo ser él mismo quien le enviara el paquete.

It could have been him who sent the package.

— Contratiempo (2017)

Hay más cámaras, cualquier alumno pudo hacer esa película.

There are more cameras; any student could have made that film.

— Tesis (1996)

El criminal pudo eliminar casi todos sus rastros.

The criminal was able to eliminate almost all traces of himself.

Ha hecho lo que ninguna Tsahik pudo hacer.

She has done what no other Tsahik could do.

— Avatar: Fuego y ceniza (2025)

Tom pudo haber estado en Boston con Mary la semana pasada.

Tom may have been in Boston with Mary last week.

Jenny, quien pudo ver el rostro de otra mujer en la cara de Gia.

Jenny, who could see another woman's face in Gia's face.

— Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)

Daniel pudo observar una vida de bienestar.

Daniel was able to observe a life of well-being.

— ¡Que te den profe! (2013)

En la oscuridad, ella le pudo oír a él y a sus invitados charlar y reír.

In the darkness, she could hear him and his guests chatting and laughing.

Él pudo resolver el problema con facilidad.

He was able to solve the problem easily.

Finalmente, ella pudo contactar a su vieja amiga.

Finally, she was able to contact her old friend.

Le pudo pasar a cualquiera.

It could have happened to anyone.

Ninguno pudo responder mis preguntas.

None of them could answer my questions.

Y un hombre que pudo hacer eso, puede planear mi asalto al castillo en un día.

And a man who could do that can plan my assault on the castle in a day.

— La princesa prometida (1987)

Usted también pudo hacerse con los objetos del chico.

You too were able to get hold of the boy's belongings.

— Contratiempo (2017)

Tu papá no te pudo recoger.

Your dad couldn't pick you up.

— Primate (2026)

Ella pudo resolver el problema, igual que yo.

She was able to solve the problem, just like I was.

Tom fácilmente pudo habernos esperado.

Tom could easily have waited for us.

Quien pudo ver los errores de su marido en ese rostro.

Who could see her husband's mistakes in that face.

— Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)

El accidente se pudo evitar por completo.

The accident could have been completely avoided.

Si ella estaba dormida, ¿Cómo pudo ser secuestrada?

If she was asleep, how could she have been kidnapped?

— बर्फी! (2012)

Benjamin se las pudo arreglar con la policía.

Benjamin was able to deal with the police.

— Who Am I: Ningún sistema es seguro (2014)

Tom pudo decirme la verdad.

Tom was able to tell me the truth.

O que cualquiera pudo haberlo hecho de distinta forma.

Or that anyone could have done it differently.

Hubo ciertas sospechas de juego sucio, pero nunca se pudo probar nada.

There were some suspicions of foul play, but nothing could ever be proven.

— Ahora me ves 3 (2025)

Tom pudo haber muerto.

Tom could have died.

Tom pudo ir a la universidad gracias a una beca.

Tom was able to go to university thanks to a scholarship.

Parece que Tom pudo conseguir lo que quería.

It seems Tom was able to get what he wanted.

Él pudo leer el libro.

He was able to read the book.

No los pudo encontrar.

He/She couldn't find them.

— Star Trek II: La ira de Khan (1982)

Si Nick pudo usarla, cualquiera puede.

If Nick could use it, anyone can.

— Mike y Nick y Nick y Alice (2026)

Pero ni siquiera eso pudo hacer.

But he couldn't even do that.

— Bullet Train (2022)

Tom buscó su botiquín de primeros auxilios, pero no lo pudo encontrar.

Tom looked for his first-aid kit, but he couldn't find it.

El gato persiguió al ratón, pero no lo pudo atrapar.

The cat chased the mouse, but it couldn't catch it.

Ella pudo atravesar el océano Pacífico en bote.

She was able to cross the Pacific Ocean by boat.

La policía pudo encontrar al delincuente.

The police were able to find the criminal.

No se pudo comprobar la inocencia del acusado.

The defendant’s innocence could not be proven.

Ningún estudiante pudo contestar a la pregunta.

No student was able to answer the question.

Pudo haberla conocido ayer.

I could have met her yesterday.

Pudo ser un ataque de rabia.

It could have been a fit of rage.

— Old Boy (2003)

verb · third singular · past indicative Uncommon #14,728
as … as [someone] could; as … as possible Used after tan + an adjective or adverb to express the greatest degree someone was able to achieve.
SP: Ella caminó tan rápido como pudo para alcanzarlo.
EN: She walked as fast as she could to catch up with him.
as … as [someone] could; as … as possible In this construction, pudo refers to what the subject was able to do.
SP: Tom gritó tan fuerte como pudo.
EN: Tom shouted as loudly as he could.
Conjugation of poder
Indicative past
SingularPlural
First pude pudimos
Second pudiste —
Third pudo pudieron

Hizo su trabajo lo mejor que pudo.

He did his job as best he could.

Tom caminó tan rápido como pudo para alcanzar a Mary.

Tom walked as fast as he could to catch up with Mary.

Ella caminó tan rápido como pudo para alcanzarlo.

She walked as fast as she could to catch up with him.

Fue a buscar ayuda en cuanto pudo.

He went to get help as soon as he could.

Tom gritó tan alto como pudo.

Tom shouted as loudly as he could.

Él se esforzó todo lo que pudo para detener esa reforma.

He did everything he could to stop that reform.

Él hizo lo mejor que pudo hasta el final.

He did his best until the very end.

Vino tan pronto como pudo.

He came as soon as he could.

Él jugó lo mejor que pudo.

He played the best he could.

Tom sabía que Mary había hecho todo lo que pudo.

Tom knew that Mary had done everything she could.

Él corrió tan rápidamente como pudo.

He ran as fast as he could.

Corrió hacia mí lo más rápido que pudo.

He ran towards me as fast as he could.

Él dio lo mejor que pudo.

He did the best he could.

Él lo hizo lo mejor que pudo.

He did the best he could.

Lástima que Bilbo no lo mató cuando pudo.

It's a shame Bilbo didn't kill him when he had the chance.

— El señor de los anillos: La comunidad del anillo (2001)

Corrió tan rápido como pudo con la esperanza de no perder el tren.

He ran as fast as he could in the hope of not missing the train.

Tom hizo el trabajo lo mejor que pudo.

Tom did the best job he could.

Quizá intento salvarla y no pudo.

Maybe I tried to save her but couldn't.

— Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Tom gritó tan fuerte como pudo.

Tom screamed as loudly as he could.

Tom corrió tan rápido como pudo esperando no perder el tren.

Tom ran as fast as he could, hoping not to miss the train.

Él hizo lo mejor que pudo, pero fracasó.

He did his best, but he failed.

Llegó lo más pronto que pudo.

He arrived as soon as he could.

Tom gritó el nombre de Mary tan fuerte como pudo, pero ella no lo escuchó.

Tom shouted Mary's name as loudly as he could, but she didn't hear him.

Usted lo hizo lo mejor que pudo.

You did the best you could.

verb · third singular · past indicative Rare #28,017
could; was able to Past ability or opportunity to do something.
SP: Lástima que Bilbo no lo mató cuando pudo.
EN: It's a shame Bilbo didn't kill him when he could.
was able to; had the chance to
SP: Pudo conocer a alguien en el mes que te fuiste.
EN: He had the chance to meet someone during the month you were away.
was able to
SP: Pudo descubrir quién era yo y que Laura no era mi mujer.
EN: He was able to discover who I was and that Laura wasn't my wife.
was able to; had the opportunity to
SP: Pudo informarse leyendo la carta.
EN: He was able to find out by reading the letter.
could have Expresses a possibility in the past.
SP: Pudo morir.
EN: He could have died.
Conjugation of poder
Indicative past
SingularPlural
First pude pudimos
Second pudiste —
Third pudo pudieron

Ya te dije que él no pudo.

I already told you that he couldn't.

— La infancia de Iván (1962)

No pudo.

He couldn't.

— Ahora me ves 3 (2025)

Pudo conocer a alguien en el mes que te fuiste.

He might have met someone in the month you left.

— El jardín de los pecadores: Paradigma paradoja (Paradoja espiral) (2008)

Pudo ver incluso Atami.

He could even see Atami.

— Cuentos de Tokio (1953)

Nadie pudo con ella, jamás.

Nobody could beat her, ever.

— Rebeca (1940)

Dice que iba a haber venido, pero que no pudo.

He says he would have come, but he couldn't.

Miren, voy a hacerle a Kletzki, lo que Auschwitz no pudo.

Look, I'm going to do to Kletzki what Auschwitz couldn't.

— Marty Supreme (2025)

No pudo, hubo una alarma y lo llamaron.

He couldn't; there was an alarm and they called him.

— La infancia de Iván (1962)

Pudo descubrir quién era yo y que Laura no era mi mujer.

He was able to discover who I was and that Laura was not my wife.

— Contratiempo (2017)

Pudo morir.

He could have died.

— Bugonia (2025)

Me pudo la curiosidad.

Curiosity got the better of me.

— El hundimiento (2004)

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