hubiese
“hubiese” means “had” in Spanish (Used in the past perfect conditional or hypothetical clauses (e.g., If I had...)).
had
Also: should have
📝 In Action
Si lo hubiese sabido antes, no habríamos venido.
B2If I had known it sooner, we wouldn't have come.
Me alegré de que no hubiese ocurrido nada grave.
C1I was happy that nothing serious had happened.
Hubiese querido verte, pero no fue posible.
C1I would have liked to see you, but it wasn't possible. (Implies 'I wish I had been able to see you.')
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: hubiese
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'hubiese' to talk about an unreal past condition?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Old Spanish verb *aver* (to have), which evolved from the Latin *habēre*. The '-ese' ending is one of two standard forms for the imperfect subjunctive mood, stemming from Latin structures that expressed unrealized possibilities.
First recorded: Medieval Spanish texts (as *oviese*)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'hubiese' the same as 'hubiera'?
Yes, they are the same in function and meaning. 'Hubiese' is the second, slightly more formal, way to form the imperfect subjunctive of 'haber'. You can use either one.
Which person uses 'hubiese'?
'Hubiese' is used for the first-person singular (yo: I) and the third-person singular (él/ella/usted: he/she/you formal). For example, 'Yo hubiese ido' or 'Ella hubiese ido'.