podías
“podías” means “you could” in Spanish (past ability (familiar 'tú')).
you could
Also: you were able to, you were allowed to
📝 In Action
Cuando vivías allí, ¿podías ir al parque todos los días?
A2When you lived there, could you go to the park every day?
Antes de la cirugía, no podías mover el brazo.
B1Before the surgery, you couldn't move your arm.
En ese trabajo, podías tomarte un descanso cuando quisieras.
B2In that job, you were allowed to take a break whenever you wanted.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: podías
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'podías' to describe a past, ongoing ability?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb 'poder' comes directly from the Latin verb *potēre*, meaning 'to be powerful' or 'to be able.' The Spanish word has kept that core meaning of capability throughout history.
First recorded: Around the 10th century (Old Spanish)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'poder' an irregular verb?
Poder is irregular because its stem changes when conjugated. For example, in the present tense, 'o' changes to 'ue' (p**ue**do), and in the preterite, the stem changes completely (p**u**de). You just have to memorize these changes!
How is 'podías' different from 'podrías'?
'Podías' (imperfect) talks about what you *were able to do* in the past. 'Podrías' (conditional) talks about what you *would be able to do* now or in the future, and is often used for polite requests ('Could you please help me?').