creía
kray-EE-ah
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Yo creía que la película empezaba a las siete.
A2I thought the movie started at seven.
Ella creía en Papá Noel cuando era pequeña.
A2She used to believe in Santa Claus when she was little.
El profesor creía que no habíamos estudiado.
B1The teacher thought that we hadn't studied.
Usted creía que la reunión era mañana, ¿no?
B1You thought the meeting was tomorrow, right?
💡 Grammar Points
Describing Past States of Mind
Use creía to talk about what someone used to believe or thought over a period of time. It describes an ongoing mental state in the past, not a single, finished action.
Who is 'creía'?
This one form can mean two different things: 'I thought' (for 'yo') or 'he/she/you thought' (for 'él/ella/usted'). You'll always know who it is from the rest of the sentence.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Ongoing Belief vs. Sudden Realization (`creía` vs. `creí`)
Mistake: "Cuando era niño, yo creí en los monstruos."
Correction: Cuando era niño, yo creía en los monstruos. (I used to believe in monsters). Use `creía` for beliefs held over time. Use `creí` (the preterite tense) for a sudden belief, like 'En ese momento, te creí' (In that moment, I believed you).
⭐ Usage Tips
Softening an Opinion
You can say Yo creía que... (I was thinking that...) to politely correct someone or offer a different idea. It's softer than saying 'You're wrong.' It's like 'I was under the impression that...' in English.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: creía
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence best uses `creía` to describe a past, ongoing belief?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between `creía` and `pensaba`?
They are very similar and often interchangeable for 'I thought'. `Creía` often implies a stronger sense of belief or conviction, while `pensaba` can be more about a simple thought or opinion. For example, 'Creía en la magia' (I believed in magic) works better than 'pensaba en la magia'.
Why does `creía` have an accent mark?
The accent on the 'í' is important for pronunciation. It breaks up the natural vowel combination of 'e-i-a' into two separate sounds: 'cre-í-a'. Without it, it might sound more like 'crei-a'. This accent helps keep the rhythm of the verb consistent with its other forms.