podían
“podían” means “they could” in Spanish (past ability or permission).
they could, you (all) could
Also: they were able to, they used to be able to
📝 In Action
Ellos podían entrar al edificio sin problemas.
A2They were able to enter the building without problems.
Antes, ustedes podían quedarse hasta tarde en la biblioteca.
B1Before, you (all) could stay until late at the library.
Cuando éramos niños, podíamos jugar todo el día en el parque.
A2When we were children, we could play all day in the park.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: podían
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'podían' to describe a general, ongoing past ability?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb 'poder' comes from the Latin verb *potere*, meaning 'to be powerful' or 'to be able'. The 'ía' ending is the standard marker for the Imperfect tense in Spanish 'er' and 'ir' verbs.
First recorded: Old Spanish (around 10th-11th century) as 'pueder' or similar forms.
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
Who does 'podían' refer to?
'Podían' refers to 'ellos' (they, masculine or mixed group), 'ellas' (they, feminine group), or 'ustedes' (you all, formal or informal in Latin America). Context tells you which group is meant.
Why does 'poder' change its stem (puedo, pude, podía)?
'Poder' is an irregular verb. While the Imperfect tense ('podía') is relatively regular, the Present ('puedo') and Preterite ('pude') have stem changes to maintain the original Latin sound or for historical reasons. You must memorize these changes!