creía
“creía” means “I thought / I used to think” in Spanish (The 'yo' form, talking about your own past belief.).
I thought / I used to think, he/she/it thought / you (formal) thought
Also: I believed / I used to believe, he/she/it believed / you (formal) believed
📝 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?
🔄 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
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the verb 'creer', which traces back to the Latin word `crēdere`. This Latin word meant 'to trust, to believe, to entrust'. It's related to the word 'creed' in English.
First recorded: 10th century (for the verb 'creer')
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
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.