habíamos
“habíamos” means “we had” in Spanish (as in 'we had done something').
we had
Also: we'd
📝 In Action
Cuando llegaron, ya habíamos comprado los boletos.
B1When they arrived, we had already bought the tickets.
No sabíamos que habíamos dejado la luz encendida.
B1We didn't know that we had left the light on.
Si lo habíamos planeado, ¿por qué no lo hicimos?
B2If we had planned it, why didn't we do it?
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: habíamos
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'habíamos' to describe an action that happened before another past event?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin verb *habēre*, meaning 'to have' or 'to hold.' While the root is the same as the English 'have,' in Spanish, *haber* evolved primarily into a helping verb, while *tener* took over the meaning of possession.
First recorded: The imperfect form (which gave rise to 'habíamos') was established in Old Spanish by the 10th century.
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'habíamos' used for possession, like 'we had a car'?
No. In Spanish, the verb *tener* (to have) is used for possession ('Teníamos un coche'). 'Habíamos' is only used as a helping verb to create complex tenses, like saying 'we had eaten' (*Habíamos comido*).
What is the full tense that 'habíamos' helps create?
It helps create the Past Perfect Indicative (or Pluperfect), which is used to talk about an action completed before a definite point in the past.