deseaba
“deseaba” means “I wanted” in Spanish (past, ongoing desire (1st person)).
I wanted, he/she/it wanted
Also: I used to wish, was desiring
📝 In Action
Yo deseaba verte antes de que te fueras.
A2I wanted to see you before you left.
Mi abuela siempre deseaba que tuviéramos buena salud.
B1My grandmother always wished that we would have good health.
Él deseaba tanto esa bicicleta que no podía dormir.
A2He wanted that bicycle so much that he couldn't sleep.
Usted deseaba un café, ¿verdad?
B1You wanted a coffee, right?
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: deseaba
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'deseaba' to describe a continuous, long-term feeling?
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👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *desiderare*, meaning 'to long for, to wish for, to miss.' It shares a root with the English word 'desire.'
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'deseaba' means 'I wanted' or 'He/She wanted'?
You need context! Since 'yo' and 'él/ella/usted' share this form, look for the subject pronoun being used (Yo, Él, Ella, Usted) or look at the nouns in the sentence (e.g., 'Mi madre deseaba...').
Is 'deseaba' the same as 'quería'?
They are very close synonyms, both meaning 'wanted' in the past. 'Desear' (deseaba) often implies a slightly stronger, deeper wish or longing than 'querer' (quería).