estabais
“estabais” means “you were” in Spanish (referring to a group of people informally).
you were
Also: you used to be
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Vosotros estabais en el cine ayer por la tarde.
A1You all were at the cinema yesterday afternoon.
Cuando llegué, vosotros ya estabais allí.
A2When I arrived, you all were already there.
Sé que estabais muy cansados después de la excursión.
A2I know you were very tired after the hike.
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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Words that translate to "estabais" in Spanish:
you were→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: estabais
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'estabais' to talk about a group of friends?
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📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'stare,' which means 'to stand.' This is why we use it for locations and temporary states—things that are 'standing' in a certain way right now.
First recorded: 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to use the word 'vosotros' with 'estabais'?
Not usually! Because the ending '-abais' is unique to 'you all' in the past, Spanish speakers will know exactly who you are talking about even if you leave the pronoun out.
Why doesn't my Mexican friend use this word?
In Mexico and most of Latin America, the 'vosotros' form has been replaced by 'ustedes'. They would say 'ustedes estaban' instead.