pudiera
“pudiera” means “could” in Spanish (hypothetical situations, e.g., 'If I could...').
could
Also: might, were able to
📝 In Action
Si yo pudiera elegir, viajaría por todo el mundo.
B1If I could choose, I would travel all over the world.
No creí que él pudiera llegar a tiempo.
B2I didn't think he could arrive on time.
¿Pudiera traerme un vaso de agua, por favor?
B1Could you bring me a glass of water, please? (very polite)
Ojalá pudiera ir a la fiesta contigo.
B1I wish I could go to the party with you.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: pudiera
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'pudiera' to express a wish?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb 'posse,' which meant 'to be able.' The '-ra' ending evolved from a different Latin tense (the pluperfect indicative) but was repurposed in Spanish to express these hypothetical ideas.
First recorded: Evolved in early Spanish, around the 10th-12th centuries.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the real difference between 'pudiera' and 'podría'?
Think of it like 'if' and 'then'. 'Pudiera' is for the 'if' part of a hypothetical sentence (the condition): 'Si PUDIERA...' (If I could...). 'Podría' is for the 'then' part (the result): '...PODRÍA viajar' (...I would travel). 'Pudiera' sets up the dream, and 'podría' describes what would happen in that dream.
Is 'pudiera' only for the past?
Not really. Even though it's called the 'past' or 'imperfect' subjunctive, it's most often used to talk about unreal situations in the present or future, like wishes ('Ojalá pudiera ir') or hypotheticals ('Si pudiera, lo haría').
Who uses 'pudiera'? Does it mean 'I could' or 'he/she could'?
Both! 'Pudiera' is the form for 'yo' (I), 'él' (he), 'ella' (she), and 'usted' (you, formal). You can tell who the speaker is talking about from the rest of the sentence. For example, 'Si yo pudiera...' (If I could...) vs. 'Si ella pudiera...' (If she could...).