Inklingo

amabas

ah-MAH-bahs/aˈmaβas/

amabas means you used to love in Spanish (describing a feeling that lasted for a while in the past).

you used to love

Also: you were loving, you loved
VerbA2regular ar
A nostalgic illustration of a person tenderly caring for a small puppy over many years.
gerundamando
past Participleamado
infinitiveamar

📝 In Action

amabas jugar en el jardín de niños.

A2

You used to love playing in the garden as a child.

Pensé que amabas a tu gato.

A2

I thought you loved your cat.

En aquel entonces, amabas la música clásica.

B1

Back then, you were loving classical music.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • querías (you used to love/want)
  • adorabas (you used to adore)

Antonyms

  • odiabas (you used to hate)
  • detestabas (you used to detest)

Common Collocations

  • amabas profundamenteyou loved deeply
  • amabas con locurayou loved madly

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesamaran
yoamara
amaras
vosotrosamarais
nosotrosamáramos
él/ella/ustedamara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesamen
yoame
ames
vosotrosaméis
nosotrosamemos
él/ella/ustedame

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesamaron
yoamé
amaste
vosotrosamasteis
nosotrosamamos
él/ella/ustedamó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesamaban
yoamaba
amabas
vosotrosamabais
nosotrosamábamos
él/ella/ustedamaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesaman
yoamo
amas
vosotrosamáis
nosotrosamamos
él/ella/ustedama

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "amabas" in Spanish:

you loved

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: amabas

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence best uses 'amabas' to describe a past habit?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

From the Latin verb 'amare,' which has meant 'to love' for thousands of years.

First recorded: 12th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: amaviFrench: aimais

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'amabas' mean 'you loved' or 'you used to love'?

It can mean both! In English, we use different phrases, but in Spanish, 'amabas' covers any love that was happening continuously or habitually in the past.

Can I use 'amabas' for a person I just met?

Generally no. 'Amabas' is the informal form for 'tú.' If you are speaking very formally, you would use 'amaba' (for usted).