jugaba
hoo-GAH-bah
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Cuando era niño, yo jugaba en el parque todas las tardes.
A2When I was a child, I used to play in the park every afternoon.
Ella jugaba con el perro cuando empezó a llover.
A2She was playing with the dog when it started to rain.
Usted jugaba muy bien al tenis hace años.
B1You used to play tennis very well years ago.
💡 Grammar Points
One word, two people
In this past form, 'jugaba' is used for both 'I' (yo) and 'he/she/you formal' (él/ella/usted). Use the person's name or a pronoun if you need to be extra clear.
The 'Movie' Tense
Think of 'jugaba' like a scene in a movie that is already in progress. It describes what was happening or what used to happen regularly, rather than a single completed action.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Jugaba vs. Jugué
Mistake: "Using 'jugué' to say 'I used to play every day.'"
Correction: Use 'jugaba' for habits. 'Jugué' is for one specific time, like 'I played soccer yesterday.'
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking about childhood
Whenever you start a sentence with 'Cuando era niño/a' (When I was a child), you will almost always use 'jugaba' to describe your old hobbies.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
present
imperfect
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: jugaba
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence means 'I used to play soccer every Friday'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'jugaba' mean 'I played' or 'She played'?
It can mean both! You have to look at the rest of the sentence to know if the speaker is talking about themselves or someone else.
Can I use 'jugaba' for playing an instrument?
No. In Spanish, you use 'tocar' for instruments. 'Jugaba' is only for games, sports, or playing with toys.