estabas
“estabas” means “you were” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
you were
📝 In Action
Estabas en la cocina cuando te llamé.
A1You were in the kitchen when I called you.
Ayer a las cinco, ¿estabas en casa?
A2Yesterday at five, were you at home?
you were
📝 In Action
Estabas muy feliz con tu regalo.
A1You were very happy with your gift.
Me dijiste que estabas enfermo la semana pasada.
A2You told me you were sick last week.
La puerta estaba abierta, pero tú no estabas.
B1The door was open, but you weren't there.
you were (-ing)
📝 In Action
Estabas durmiendo cuando sonó el teléfono.
A2You were sleeping when the phone rang.
¿Qué estabas haciendo a las diez de la noche?
A2What were you doing at ten o'clock at night?
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "estabas" in Spanish:
you were→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: estabas
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'estabas' to describe a temporary feeling?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
'Estabas' comes from the verb 'estar', which grew out of the Latin word 'stāre'. 'Stāre' meant 'to stand' or 'to be standing'. Over time, its meaning softened in Spanish to mean 'to be' in a certain place or condition, which is how we use it today!
First recorded: Evolved from Latin, present in Old Spanish.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'estabas' and 'estuviste'?
Great question! Both mean 'you were', but they describe the past in different ways. Use 'estabas' for ongoing situations, descriptions, or habits in the past ('You were always happy'). Use 'estuviste' for completed actions at a specific time ('You were at the party for two hours'). Think of 'estabas' as setting the scene and 'estuviste' as telling what happened.
Do I always need to say 'tú estabas'?
Nope! In Spanish, the ending of the verb '-abas' already tells us you're talking about 'tú'. So, you can usually drop the 'tú' and just say 'estabas'. You might include 'tú' if you want to emphasize or clarify who you're talking about.