hablaban
ah-BLAH-bahn
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Ellos hablaban mientras yo cocinaba.
A2They were talking while I was cooking.
Mis abuelos hablaban italiano en casa.
A2My grandparents used to speak Italian at home.
Ustedes hablaban muy rápido ayer.
B1You all were speaking very fast yesterday.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Background' Tense
This word uses a past tense that acts like a movie camera, showing what was happening in the background before something else interrupted it.
They vs. You All
In most Spanish-speaking countries, this word is used for both 'they were talking' and 'you all were talking' (when speaking to a group).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Hablaban vs. Hablaron
Mistake: "Using 'hablaron' to describe a childhood habit."
Correction: Use 'hablaban' for things that happened repeatedly or for a long time without a clear end. Use 'hablaron' for a quick, finished conversation.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Memories
Whenever you are describing people in your memories (what they used to do or what they were doing at the time), reach for 'hablaban'.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: hablaban
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence means 'They used to talk every day'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'hablaban' always mean 'they'?
Not always! It can mean 'they' (men/women) or 'you all' (ustedes).
What is the difference between 'hablaban' and 'hablaron'?
Think of 'hablaban' as a video of an ongoing action ('they were talking') and 'hablaron' as a snapshot of a completed action ('they talked').