parecían
“parecían” means “they seemed” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
they seemed, they appeared
Also: you (plural, formal) seemed
📝 In Action
Las nubes parecían algodón de azúcar antes de la tormenta.
A2The clouds seemed like cotton candy before the storm.
Ellos parecían muy contentos con la noticia que les diste.
B1They seemed very happy with the news you gave them.
¿Ustedes parecían preocupados? ¿Pasó algo?
B1Did you (formal plural) seem worried? Did something happen?
they looked like, they resembled
📝 In Action
Sus voces parecían las de dos pájaros cantando en el bosque.
B1Their voices sounded like two birds singing in the forest.
Cuando éramos niños, nuestras bicicletas parecían vehículos espaciales.
B2When we were kids, our bikes looked like spacecraft.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: parecían
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'parecían' to describe an ongoing state in the past?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin verb *parēscere*, which means 'to appear' or 'to show oneself,' and is related to *parere* ('to be visible'). The Spanish word kept the core meaning of expressing how something looks or appears to someone else.
First recorded: Old Spanish (around the 11th-12th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'parecer' and 'parecerse a'?
'Parecer' (like in 'parecían') means 'to seem' or 'to appear' (e.g., 'They seemed happy'). 'Parecerse a' (to look like/to resemble) is used when you are comparing two things or people (e.g., 'They looked like their grandparents').
Why does 'parecían' end in '-ían'?
The '-ían' ending tells you three key things: 1) The action/state was ongoing or habitual in the past (the Imperfect tense). 2) The verb is an -er or -ir verb. 3) The subject is plural (they, or formal you plural).