jugaba
“jugaba” means “used to play” in Spanish (past habit).
used to play, was playing
Also: would play
📝 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.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
present
imperfect
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: jugaba
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence means 'I used to play soccer every Friday'?
📚 More Resources
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'jocari', which means to joke or to play. It is the root of many English words like 'jocular' and 'joke'.
First recorded: 12th 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
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.