podíamos
“podíamos” means “we could” in Spanish (past ability or possibility).
we could, we were able to
Also: we might have
📝 In Action
Cuando vivíamos allí, podíamos ir a la playa todos los días.
A2When we lived there, we could go to the beach every day.
No sabíamos que podíamos usar el ascensor, así que subimos las escaleras.
B1We didn't know we were allowed to use the elevator, so we took the stairs.
Antes de la tormenta, podíamos ver las estrellas claramente.
A2Before the storm, we could see the stars clearly.
Si llegábamos a tiempo, podíamos comprar entradas.
B1If we arrived on time, we could buy tickets.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "podíamos" in Spanish:
we could→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: podíamos
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'podíamos' to describe a *habitual* past ability?
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👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb 'poder' comes from the Vulgar Latin root *potēre*, which itself derives from the classical Latin *posse* meaning 'to be able.' The imperfect ending -íamos is a standard pattern in Spanish for describing ongoing past actions or states.
First recorded: Old Castilian (as part of the conjugation of 'poder')
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'podíamos' and 'pudimos'?
'Podíamos' (Imperfect) means 'we were able to' or 'we could' in an ongoing or habitual sense, describing the ability itself. 'Pudimos' (Preterite) means 'we managed to' or 'we succeeded in doing' a specific action at a specific moment in the past.
Does 'podíamos' imply that the action actually happened?
No, not necessarily. 'Podíamos' only implies that the *ability* or *opportunity* existed. For example, 'Podíamos comprarlo' means 'We had the option to buy it,' but it doesn't confirm if the purchase happened.