Two friendly characters sitting side-by-side on a wooden park bench, illustrating a past location or state.

estábamos

/es-TAH-bah-mos/

VerbA2irregular ar

we were?describing a past state, location, or ongoing action

Also:we used to be?describing a habitual state in the past

Quick Reference

infinitiveestar

gerundestando

past Participleestado

📝 In Action

Estábamos en el parque cuando empezó a llover.

We were in the park when it started to rain.

Ayer a las cinco, estábamos viendo una película.

Yesterday at five, we were watching a movie.

Estábamos muy cansados después del viaje.

We were very tired after the trip.

Antes, siempre estábamos juntos en las vacaciones.

Before, we were always together on vacation.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

estábamos de acuerdo – we were in agreement
estábamos a punto de... – we were about to...
estábamos de vacaciones – we were on vacation

💡 Grammar Points

Describing the 'Background' in the Past

Use 'estábamos' to set the scene or describe what was happening in the background when something else occurred. Think of it as painting a picture of the past: 'Estábamos cenando cuando sonó el teléfono' (We were eating dinner when the phone rang).

'Estar' vs. 'Ser' in the Past

'Estábamos' is for how you felt, where you were, or what you were doing (temporary things). For what you were like (your identity or characteristics), you'd use 'éramos', from the verb 'ser'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Wrong Past Tense

Mistake: "Ayer, *estuvimos* cansados todo el día."

Correction: Ayer, *estábamos* cansados todo el día. Use 'estábamos' to describe a state over a period of time, not a single, completed action. 'Estuvimos' would be for something with a clear start and end, like 'Estuvimos en Madrid por tres días' (We were in Madrid for three days).

⭐ Usage Tips

Your Go-To for Storytelling

'Estábamos' is your best friend for telling stories. Start your story with 'Estábamos en la playa...' (We were at the beach...) to immediately draw your listener into the scene and describe what was going on.

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

yoestoy

túestás

él/ella/ustedestá

nosotrosestamos

vosotrosestáis

ellos/ellas/ustedesestán

preterite

yoestuve

túestuviste

él/ella/ustedestuvo

nosotrosestuvimos

vosotrosestuvisteis

ellos/ellas/ustedesestuvieron

imperfect

yoestaba

túestabas

él/ella/ustedestaba

nosotrosestábamos

vosotrosestabais

ellos/ellas/ustedesestaban

subjunctive

present

yoesté

túestés

él/ella/ustedesté

nosotrosestemos

vosotrosestéis

ellos/ellas/ustedesestén

imperfect

yoestuviera

túestuvieras

él/ella/ustedestuviera

nosotrosestuviéramos

vosotrosestuvierais

ellos/ellas/ustedesestuvieran

View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: estábamos

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'estábamos'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

estar(to be) - verb

estado(state, status) - noun

estancia(stay, room) - noun

estante(shelf) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'estábamos' and 'estuvimos'?

Think of it like this: 'estábamos' is for describing the background scene or a continuous action in the past ('We were walking'). 'Estuvimos' is for a completed action with a clear beginning and end ('We were at the party for three hours').

And what about 'estábamos' vs. 'éramos'?

Both can mean 'we were,' but 'estábamos' (from estar) is for temporary conditions, locations, and moods (how you are). 'Éramos' (from ser) is for more permanent traits, identity, or characteristics (what you are).