preguntaba
“preguntaba” means “I was asking” in Spanish (Continuous past action (Yo)).
I was asking, he/she was asking, used to ask
Also: you were asking
📝 In Action
Mi hijo siempre me preguntaba por qué el cielo era azul.
A2My son always used to ask me why the sky was blue.
Ella preguntaba por el precio mientras yo buscaba mi billetera.
A2She was asking about the price while I looked for my wallet.
Usted preguntaba mucho, pero nadie le respondía.
B1You (formal) were asking a lot, but nobody answered you.
Cuando era niño, le preguntaba a mi abuela cómo hacía su famoso pastel.
B1When I was a child, I would ask my grandmother how she made her famous cake.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: preguntaba
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'preguntaba' to describe a repeated action in the past?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb 'preguntar' comes from the Latin verb *percontari*, meaning 'to ask diligently' or 'to inquire thoroughly.' The Spanish form kept the idea of requesting information.
First recorded: Medieval Latin period
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'preguntaba' mean 'I was asking' AND 'He was asking'?
Many Spanish verb forms are shared across different subjects. 'Preguntaba' is the form for 'Yo' (I) and 'Él/Ella/Usted' (He/She/You formal). You rely on the subject pronoun (Yo, Ella) or the context of the conversation to know exactly who is performing the action.
Is 'preguntaba' used more often than 'preguntó'?
Both are extremely common! 'Preguntó' (the preterite tense) is used for a single, completed action (e.g., 'He asked once'). 'Preguntaba' (the imperfect tense) is used for ongoing or routine actions (e.g., 'He used to ask every day'). They describe different kinds of past events.