pudieras
“pudieras” means “you could” in Spanish (polite request or hypothetical situation (tú)).
you could, you might be able to
Also: if you were able to
📝 In Action
¿Tú crees que pudieras ayudarme con esta caja?
B1Do you think you could help me with this box?
Si pudieras viajar a cualquier lugar, ¿a dónde irías?
B2If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
No sabía que pudieras hablar tan bien el francés.
B2I didn't know that you were able to speak French so well.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "pudieras" in Spanish:
you could→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: pudieras
Question 1 of 2
Which English phrase best captures the meaning of 'Si pudieras venir mañana...'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb 'poder' comes from the Latin verb *potere* (to be able, to have power). The Spanish imperfect subjunctive ending *-ras* comes from an ancient Latin perfect tense, which evolved over centuries to express uncertainty and hypothetical situations.
First recorded: 11th century (as 'poder')
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'pudieras' the same as 'pudieses'?
Yes, they are exactly the same in meaning and usage. Spanish has two equally correct forms for the imperfect subjunctive, the one ending in '-ra' (pudieras) and the one ending in '-se' (pudieses). Choose whichever feels most natural or common in your area.
Why is 'pudieras' used for polite requests when it’s a past tense?
Using a past or hypothetical form like 'pudieras' or the conditional 'podrías' creates distance from the present reality. This distance makes the request sound less demanding and more tentative, which signals respect and politeness.