A simple storybook illustration showing two smiling children sitting side-by-side on a wooden park bench in a sunny park.

estuvimos

es-too-VEE-mos

verbA1irregular ar

we were?Location or temporary state (completed action)

Also:we stayed?Referring to a defined period of time,we felt?Referring to a temporary emotional or physical state

Quick Reference

infinitiveestar

gerundestando

past Participleestado

📝 In Action

Ayer estuvimos en la casa de mis abuelos toda la tarde.

Yesterday we were at my grandparents' house all afternoon.

¿Cómo les fue? Estuvimos muy preocupados por el retraso.

How did it go? We were very worried about the delay.

Estuvimos de vacaciones en México el mes pasado.

We were on vacation in Mexico last month.

Word Connections

Synonyms

permanecimos (we remained/stayed)
fuimos (we went (context dependent))

Common Collocations

estuvimos de acuerdo – we agreed
estuvimos a punto de – we were about to

💡 Grammar Points

The 'We' Form in the Past

Estuvimos is the 'we' form (nosotros) of the verb 'estar' (to be) in the simple past tense (preterite). It describes an action or state that started and finished completely in the past.

Ser vs. Estar Distinction

We use 'estar' (and thus 'estuvimos') for temporary things: location, feelings, health, or conditions that change. We use 'ser' (like 'fuimos') for permanent characteristics, identity, or origin.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mixing up Estuvimos and Éramos

Mistake: "Éramos en el parque."

Correction: Estuvimos en el parque. ('Éramos' is for permanent description, 'estuvimos' is for location.)

Mixing up Estuvimos and Fuimos

Mistake: "Estuvimos a la fiesta."

Correction: Fuimos a la fiesta. ('Fuimos' is 'we went'; 'estuvimos' is 'we were' (already there).)

⭐ Usage Tips

Time Markers

Use 'estuvimos' when you mention a specific completed time frame, like 'Ayer' (yesterday), 'el martes' (on Tuesday), or 'la semana pasada' (last week).

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedestá

yoestoy

túestás

ellos/ellas/ustedesestán

nosotrosestamos

vosotrosestáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedestaba

yoestaba

túestabas

ellos/ellas/ustedesestaban

nosotrosestábamos

vosotrosestabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedestuvo

yoestuve

túestuviste

ellos/ellas/ustedesestuvieron

nosotrosestuvimos

vosotrosestuvisteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedesté

yoesté

túestés

ellos/ellas/ustedesestén

nosotrosestemos

vosotrosestéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedestuviera

yoestuviera

túestuvieras

ellos/ellas/ustedesestuvieran

nosotrosestuviéramos

vosotrosestuvierais

View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: estuvimos

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'estuvimos'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

estar(to be (temporary)) - verb

estado(state/condition) - noun

estábamos(we were (imperfect past)) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the preterite form 'estuvimos' so irregular?

The verb 'estar' is irregular because it uses an ancient root (*estuv-*) in the simple past, which is common for very old, high-frequency verbs in Spanish. It doesn't follow the standard -ar verb pattern (like *hablamos*).

When should I use 'estuvimos' versus 'estábamos'?

'Estuvimos' (preterite) is for actions or states that had a clear beginning and end ('We were there for three hours'). 'Estábamos' (imperfect) is for ongoing, habitual, or background states in the past ('We were always tired when we worked there').