odiaba
“odiaba” means “I used to hate” in Spanish (habitual past action (1st person singular)).
I used to hate, he/she/it hated, was hating
Also: You (formal) used to hate
📝 In Action
Yo odiaba las verduras cuando era niño.
A2I used to hate vegetables when I was a kid.
Ella odiaba la lluvia, por eso se mudó al sur.
B1She hated the rain; that’s why she moved south.
Mi perro odiaba quedarse solo, siempre lloraba.
A2My dog hated being left alone; he always cried.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
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Words that translate to "odiaba" in Spanish:
was hating→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: odiaba
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'odiaba' to describe a past habit?
📚 More Resources
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *odiare*, meaning 'to hate.' It is a direct descendant and has maintained the same core meaning for centuries.
First recorded: 13th century (in Spanish texts)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'odiaba' means 'I' or 'He/She'?
You need context! Since the 'yo' (I) and 'él/ella/usted' (he/she/you formal) forms are identical in the imperfect tense, you must look at the subject pronoun used, or the surrounding sentences, to determine who is doing the action.
Is 'odiaba' used for describing feelings or events?
'Odiaba' is primarily used for describing feelings, states of mind, and continuous or habitual actions in the past. For sudden, one-time events, you would use the preterite form, 'odió' or 'odié'.